Judicial Commission Extends SHC Constitutional Benches by a Year
The Judicial Commission of Pakistan on Tuesday extended the term of the Constitutional Benches of the Sindh High Court by one year.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the commission in Islamabad, chaired by Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi. The extension keeps the SHC’s constitutional benches functioning for another twelve months.
First meeting with new parliamentary members
Tuesday’s session was the first JCP meeting attended by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Senator Rana Sanaullah Khan. The two were nominated by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar respectively to represent parliament as treasury-bench members under Article 175A(2)(vii) of the Constitution.
Their induction followed the resignations of PPP Senator Farooq H. Naek and PML-N’s Aftab Sheikh from the commission, which had left the parliamentary seats vacant. The JCP welcomed the two new members at the start of the proceedings.
The constitutional benches were created under the 26th Constitutional Amendment to hear cases involving the interpretation of the Constitution. Their judges are nominated by the Judicial Commission, and the one-year extension means the SHC’s constitutional jurisdiction continues without interruption.
Bhoon’s law degree declared genuine
The commission also settled a controversy over the credentials of Pakistan Bar Council representative Muhammad Ahsan Bhoon. It declared his law degree valid and genuine after the PBC verified it twice.
The CJP informed the commission that after receiving Safdar’s complaint, he had referred the matter to the Pakistan Bar Council, which verified the degree twice. Bhoon had earlier served Safdar a Rs5 billion defamation notice, demanding an unconditional public apology and retraction of the claim that his law degree was fake.
Foreign visits approved for chief justices
Separately, on the prime minister’s advice, President Asif Ali Zardari approved ex-Pakistan leave and no-objection certificates for Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi and Federal Constitutional Court Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan for upcoming foreign visits.
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Frequently asked questions
What did the Judicial Commission decide on Tuesday?
It extended the term of the Sindh High Court’s Constitutional Benches by one year.
Who are the JCP’s new members?
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Senator Rana Sanaullah Khan joined as treasury-bench parliamentary representatives under Article 175A(2)(vii), replacing Farooq H. Naek and Aftab Sheikh.
What was decided about Ahsan Bhoon’s degree?
The commission declared his law degree valid and genuine after the Pakistan Bar Council verified it twice, following a complaint by Capt (retd) Muhammad Safdar.
Why did the JCP need new parliamentary members?
PPP Senator Farooq H. Naek and PML-N’s Aftab Sheikh resigned from the commission, leaving the treasury-bench parliamentary seats vacant. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar then nominated Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Rana Sanaullah under Article 175A(2)(vii) of the Constitution.
Which chief justices were cleared for foreign visits?
On the prime minister’s advice, President Asif Ali Zardari approved ex-Pakistan leave and no-objection certificates for Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi and Federal Constitutional Court Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan.
