Judicial Commission backs Justice Najafi for SC

The announcement of the Judicial Commission meeting chaired by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi has been issued. The commission, by majority vote, recommended the elevation of Lahore High Court Justice Ali Baqir Najafi as a Supreme Court (SC) judge.

According to a statement issued by the Judicial Commission, the meeting lasted for approximately two and a half hours. Members deleted the remarks of July 2, 2024, regarding the public perception of two judges of the Lahore High Court (LHC), by majority vote.

Moreover, as per sources, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah opposed the deletion of the remarks.

The announcement said that it has been decided to appoint new members of the Judicial Commission in place of the acting chief justices of the high courts. Justice (retd.) Maqbool Baqir has been appointed as a member of the Judicial Commission from Sindh, Justice (retd.) Nazir Langove from Balochistan, Justice (retd.) Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui from Islamabad, and Justice (retd.) Shakirullah Jan from Peshawar High Court.

The Judicial Commission will meet on April 18 to appoint permanent chief justices in the four high courts. It approved bringing one judge to the Supreme Court instead of two out of the five judges of the Lahore High Court, and a majority decision was made in favor of Justice Ali Baqir Najafi.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members Barristers Gauhar Ali Khan and Ali Zafar also voted in favor of Justice Baqir Najafi; his name was approved by a majority of 10-3.