Extension Offer
Rana Sanaullah, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs and a key figure in the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), has firmly stated that Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa would not accept an extension to his tenure, even if it were offered.
In an interview on program “Redline with Talat,” Sanaullah addressed various issues concerning the judiciary and its functioning.
Sanaullah made it clear that while he generally refrains from commenting on individual judges, he believes there is a pressing need for comprehensive reforms within the judicial system.
He pointed out that the administrative machinery within the judiciary and certain individuals have been responsible for creating bottlenecks that impede the system’s efficient operation.
Addressing the issue of judicial appointments and extensions, Sanaullah clarified that the government had not introduced any bill to increase the number of judges.
He suggested that the push for such an increase originates from within the judiciary itself, implying that some judges might be interested in extending their tenures.
However, he emphasized that Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa is unlikely to accept any extension offer, regardless of the circumstances.
The disparity in the retirement ages for judges was also discussed. Sanaullah highlighted that High Court judges retire at 62 years, while Supreme Court judges have a retirement age of 65 years.
This difference often leads to judges aspiring to serve an additional three years by moving from the High Court to the Supreme Court, regardless of their position on the seniority list.
Regarding the ongoing debate about potentially extending the retirement age of Supreme Court judges, Sanaullah acknowledged that while maintaining the current retirement age of 65 may be acceptable, any proposal to increase it further would require thorough consideration.
He recognized that amending the constitution to implement such a change would be a complex task due to the lack of necessary support in Parliament.
Addressing the rumors surrounding Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, Sanaullah firmly stated that even if an extension were granted, it would not be accepted by the Chief Justice.
He recalled the criticism that followed the issuance of the Chief Justice’s notification two to three months ago and assured that a new announcement regarding the Chief Justice of Pakistan would be made at the appropriate time.
In a separate matter, Sanaullah commented on the recent postponement of a PTI rally, explaining that the decision was made at an administrative level.
He revealed that the Islamabad administration had been in communication with PTI about concerns that the situation could escalate, leading to the rally’s postponement.
According to Sanaullah, the first contact regarding the postponement was made with Ali Amin Gandapur, the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and an NOC (No Objection Certificate) for the rally was later issued for September 8.
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