JCP inducts Justices Abbasi, Najafi into constitutional bench

ISLAMABAD: The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) Thursday approved the nomination of two more judges for the Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court.

The commission met at the Supreme Court presided over by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi and attended by all the members. The commission was convened to consider the nomination of two more judges for the Constitutional Bench.

As per the official statement issued by the apex court, the meeting nominated two more judges, including Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi and Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, for the Constitutional Bench by majority. After the nomination, the strength of the Constitutional Bench stands at 15.

Meanwhile, it was learnt that Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbassi was nominated by the commission for the constitutional bench by majority eight votes while Justice Ali Baqar Najafi got two votes.

Similarly, according to sources, Barrister Gohar Ali and Barrister Senator Ali Zafar, representing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in the commission, refrained from voting in favour of the two judges, nominated for the Constitutional Bench.

It was learnt that the PTI members emphasized that rules should be set first for induction of judges into the Constitutional Bench. It was further learnt that the PTI representatives proposed the names Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Shahid Waheed on the criteria of seniority.

Meanwhile, a full court meeting was also held here Thursday at the Supreme Court with Chief Justice Yahya Afridi in the chair. The recommendations of the Pakistan Bar Council regarding the enrolment of former judges of the High Courts as Advocates of the Supreme Court, matter of Right to Access to Information, Asset Declaration process and the draft Supreme Court Rules, 2025 were deliberated upon and appropriate directions were issued.

All the judges gave their candid and valuable input. The forum specially appreciated the working of the Supreme Court Rules Amendment Committee and the office of the registrar.

Similarly, it was unanimously agreed to hold the next Full Court meeting soon to support the reform process initiated in the Supreme Court.