An important meeting of the Judicial Commission was held in Islamabad on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Chief Justice Yahya Afridi to discuss the appointments of new chief justices for the Balochistan, Sindh and Peshawar high courts.
According to sources, Justice Rozi Khan has been approved as the new Chief Justice of the Balochistan High Court.
The commission considered the names of three senior judges — Justice Rozi Khan, Justice Kamran Khan, and Justice Iqbal — but eventually reached a consensus on Justice Rozi Khan’s appointment.
Meanwhile, Justice Attique Shah has been approved as the new Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court.
His name was shortlisted along with Justice Ejaz Anwar and Justice Arshad Ali.
In another key decision, Justice Muhammad Junaid Ghaffar has been approved as the permanent Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court.
He was first on the seniority list, and the decision regarding his appointment was made unanimously.
For the Islamabad High Court, the commission deliberated on the names of Justice Sarfraz Dogar, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, and Justice Gul Hasan Aurangzeb.
The commission eventually approved the appointment of Justice Sarfraz Dogar as the new Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court.
Sources said that during the meeting, Supreme Court judge Justice Mansoor Ali Shah raised an objection over the proceedings, arguing that the matter related to the 26th Constitutional Amendment should be decided first. Justice Munib Akhtar supported his stance, and their view was endorsed by two members representing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Law Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The commission emphasized that the deliberations were part of a transparent and constitutional process of appointments in the higher judiciary, keeping in view the seniority, performance, and constitutional requirements of the candidates.
