Senior Pakistan Peoples Party leader Senator Farooq H. Naek has resigned from the Judicial Commission of Pakistan.
The Judicial Commission is the constitutional body responsible for appointments to Pakistan’s superior judiciary. Naek confirmed that he stepped down because of personal commitments.
In his resignation letter, Naek thanked Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar for appointing him to the commission from the treasury benches.
He described his service on the Judicial Commission as a major honour and privilege.
During his tenure, Naek participated in several commission meetings related to judicial appointments. These included appointments to different high courts and the Supreme Court.
Naek is a senior lawyer and a long-standing member of the PPP.
He has represented PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari before the Supreme Court in the presidential reference related to the case of former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
He has also appeared in major constitutional cases involving reserved seats, accountability law amendments, presidential immunity and provincial assembly disputes.
Naek gained national prominence after representing former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and President Asif Ali Zardari in several cases during the rule of former military leader Pervez Musharraf.
His political and legal career has also included important parliamentary roles.
Naek has served as a senator from Sindh since 2003.
Following the 2008 general elections, he was appointed federal law minister. He later served as chairman of the Senate for three years before returning as law minister in April 2012.
His resignation leaves a vacancy on the Judicial Commission that will require a new representative from the relevant parliamentary side.
The development comes as the commission continues to play a key role in appointments to Pakistan’s superior courts.
