Bilawal and Senator Irfan Nominated for Judicial Commission; Shibli and Ayub from Opposition
ISLAMABAD: The government and opposition have finalized their nominations for the reconstituted Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP), tasked with appointing judges, following the recent 26th Constitutional Amendment.
Sources indicate that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Irfan Siddiqui will represent the ruling coalition. Meanwhile, the opposition, led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has nominated Senator Shibli Faraz and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Omar Ayub.
Ayub confirmed the nominations, noting that PTI founder Imran Khan was consulted before finalizing the names. “Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and PTI General Secretary Salman Akram Raja communicated the decision to us,” he stated.
The PPP has proposed two names for the JCP, including Bilawal and Farooq H. Naek, to ensure equal representation within the commission. The government has already appointed Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and Attorney General Mansoor Awan as its representatives.
According to the revised Article 175A of the Constitution, the JCP, chaired by the Chief Justice of Pakistan, will include two Senators and two MNAs from both the government and opposition. The nominations from the Leaders of the House and the Opposition in the Senate will be forwarded to the National Assembly Speaker.
In addition to the parliamentary members, the commission will comprise three senior-most judges of the Supreme Court, the most senior judge from the constitutional bench, the Federal Minister for Law and Justice, the Attorney General, and a nominated advocate with at least 15 years of practice in the Supreme Court. A woman or non-Muslim member of parliament will also be included for a two-year term.
The Shehbaz Sharif-led government, alongside allies including the PPP and JUI-F, passed the legislation, which modifies the appointment process for the Chief Justice of Pakistan and establishes constitutional benches.
