Justice (retired) Mazhar Alam Miankhel has declined an offer to become an ad hoc judge of the Supreme Court, according to the reports. Miankhel’s decision marks the third refusal among proposed appointees, following similar declines by Justices Mushir Alam and Maqbool Baqar. The Supreme Court had proposed appointing these ad hoc judges to address a significant backlog of cases.
The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP), which is convening today, was set to review the appointments of four ad hoc judges for a three-year term, including Sardar Tariq Masood, Alam, Baqar, and Miankhel. The status of Masood’s acceptance is still unclear.
Sources indicate that Justice (retd) Miankhel has opted out due to personal reasons. Similarly, Alam cited his commitment to philanthropic work post-retirement, while Baqar also declined due to personal reasons but dismissed concerns about the ad hoc judges as unfounded.
The PTI had recently urged the JCP to reject the proposal for ad hoc judges, arguing that it could jeopardize judicial independence. PTI expressed concerns that such appointments might be perceived as politically motivated, potentially targeting their party. In a letter to the JCP, PTI member Ayub expressed significant apprehension over the proposal, highlighting that it was not being discussed in a parliamentary committee. He urged the JCP to reject the proposal to prevent any potential implications for judicial impartiality.
