Judicial Commission Approves Permanent Chief Justices for Four High Courts

ISLAMABAD: The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) on Tuesday approved the appointments of permanent chief justices for four high courts.

The meeting, chaired by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, reviewed and endorsed nominations for key judicial positions. Justice Atiq Shah was approved as the new Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court (PHC), Justice Rozi Khan for the Balochistan High Court (BHC), Justice Junaid Ghaffar as Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court (SHC), and Justice Sarfraz Dogar as the permanent Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

Justice Atiq Shah’s nomination received support from 11 of the 16 commission members, though it faced opposition from Supreme Court judges Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Muneeb Akhtar, as well as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s law minister and two members affiliated with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

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The JCP has formally notified the Prime Minister’s Office regarding the approval of these appointments.

Earlier in February, five judges of the Islamabad High Court had challenged the appointment of Justice Dogar as acting chief justice and the transfer of three high court judges to IHC. The Supreme Court, however, dismissed their pleas on June 19, allowing Justice Dogar to continue as acting chief justice. The judges have since filed a review petition, which remains pending.