Breaking News: Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb has been officially appointed as a permanent judge of the Supreme Court! This decision, made by the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP), marks a significant moment in the country's judicial landscape. But here's where it gets interesting...
The JCP, responsible for selecting judges for the higher courts, made this decision by a majority vote. This meeting was particularly noteworthy as it was the first after the 27th Amendment, which led to the establishment of the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC).
However, not everyone agreed with the decision. Justice Munib Akhtar opposed Justice Aurangzeb's nomination, suggesting Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani instead. This difference in opinion highlights the complexities and potential disagreements within the judicial appointment process.
Let's delve into Justice Aurangzeb's background. Born on September 14, 1970, he hails from Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where he received his early education. He later studied in Abbottabad and Islamabad before pursuing his LLB (Hons) at the University of Wales, College of Cardiff, UK, in 1991, graduating in 1994. He was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1995 from Lincoln's Inn. He also holds an LLM in corporate and commercial law from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. Justice Aurangzeb's experience includes representing Pakistan in international arbitration proceedings. He was appointed as an additional judge of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on December 23, 2015, and as a permanent judge on December 20, 2016.
In related news, the JCP also approved the elevation of Justice Zafar Ahmed Rajput as the Sindh High Court (SHC) Chief Justice and Justice Kamran Mullahkhail as the Balochistan High Court (BHC) Chief Justice, both unanimously.
During the meeting, the JCP considered several candidates for the SHC Chief Justice position, including Justice Rajput, Justice Muhammad Iqbal Kalohoro, and Justice Mahmood A. Khan. Similarly, for the BHC Chief Justice, Justice Mullahkhail, Justice Iqbal Ahmed Kasi, and Justice Shaukat Ali Rakhshani were considered.
With the creation of the FCC and recent resignations, the Supreme Court's strength has been reduced from 24 to 18 judges. This shift in numbers could have a notable impact on the court's workload and decision-making processes.
The JCP meeting was attended by key figures, including Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi, FCC Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan, Justice Munib Akhtar, and representatives from the Attorney General's office, the Law Ministry, and the Pakistan Bar Council, among others.
In a move to improve judicial performance, the JCP also formed a committee to draft rules. This committee will focus on the annual performance evaluation of high court judges and the process for addressing any performance issues.
The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) also convened and established a committee to draft rules for its procedures, adopting the Supreme Judicial Council Procedure of Inquiry, 2025, provisionally.
This is a lot of information, and it raises some important questions: Do you think the appointment of Justice Aurangzeb is a positive development? What are your thoughts on the changes within the Supreme Court and the establishment of the FCC? Share your opinions in the comments below! I'm eager to hear your thoughts.
