Three Names Finalised for Vacant IHC Seats
The Islamabad High Court administration has finalised three candidates for three vacant positions of judges.
Sources familiar with the development said the names have been forwarded to the Judicial Commission of Pakistan for consideration.
The nominated candidates include District and Sessions Judge Shahrukh Arjumand, former Advocate General Islamabad Ayyaz Shaukat, and advocate Umair Majeed Malik.
Ayyaz Shaukat is currently serving as chairman of the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority.
The development comes as the Judicial Commission of Pakistan prepares to review appointments against vacant positions in high courts.
JCP to Review Nominations Under New Rules
The Judicial Commission of Pakistan invited nominations from high courts during its June 19 meeting.
The commission set July 4 as the deadline for submitting names.
After the deadline, the nominated candidates will go through formal scrutiny under the newly approved 2026 rules.
Several other names were also under consideration before the final list was prepared.
These included tax law expert Usman G. Rashid Cheema and advocate Sultan Mazhar Sher Khan.
Two serving district and sessions judges, Shahrukh Arjumand and Humayun Dilawar, were also among the leading candidates.
The commission is expected to hold detailed sessions from July 21 to July 23.
These meetings will focus on reviewing and finalising judicial appointments for high courts across Pakistan.
Legal Community Demands Local Representation
The nomination process comes amid strong lobbying by Islamabad’s legal community.
Lawyers from the federal capital have demanded that vacant seats in the Islamabad High Court be filled by members of the local bar.
Last month, representatives of major legal bodies held a joint press conference at the Islamabad High Court Bar Association.
They argued that the Islamabad High Court should have judges from Islamabad’s legal fraternity.
They said provincial high courts usually receive judges from their own provinces. They demanded the same principle for the federal capital.
Legal representatives also raised concerns over alleged corruption in the district judiciary.
They called for broader judicial reforms and a more transparent appointment process.
The Judicial Commission, chaired by Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi, recently approved new rules for judicial appointments.
A seven-member interview panel has also been established to review candidates for the superior judiciary.
However, sources said the panel’s recommendations will not be binding on the main commission.
The Judicial Commission will retain final authority to approve appointments through a majority vote.
The final decision on the three Islamabad High Court vacancies is expected after the commission completes its review process.
