ISLAMABAD: The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) on Thursday recommended the elevation of Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah to the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The JCP met at the SC under the chairmanship of Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar. According to sources, the meeting also proposed the appointment of Justice Muhammad Yawar Ali, who is senior puisne judge, as the LHC chief justice. Justice Yawar Ali Khan is a member of a special court hearing a treason case against former military ruler Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf. He will retire on October 22, 2018 after attaining the age of superannuation of 62 years. With the elevation of Justice Mansoor Ali Shah to the SC, the apex court will regain its constitutional strength, which is 17, including the chief justice of Pakistan. Currently, one post of judge is lying vacant at the SC. According to the profile of Justice Mansoor Ali Shah available at the LHC website, he was appointed as the LHC’s additional judge on September 15, 2009 and became the chief justice in June 2015. If elevated to the apex court, he will hold the slot of apex court judge till November 2027. He will also become the CJP and hold the top judicial slot of the country for three years. According to the Supreme Court’s seniority list, after the retirement of incumbent CJP Mian Saqib Nisar, Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa will be the next CJP. After his retirement, Justice Gulzar Ahmad, Justice Umar Ata Bandial and Justice Qazi Faez Isa will also hold the top judicial office. After the retirement of Justice Qazi Faez Isa, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah will rise to the office of country’s chief adjudicator. According to sources, the JCP also considered the SHC request for appointment of six additional judges and proposed six names for the appointment as Sindh High Court’s (SHC) additional judges. These names include- two district and sessions judges Kausar Sultana Hussain and Ishrat Ali Shah and four lawyers, Adnan Iqbal Chaudhry, Amjid Ali Sahito, Agha Faisal and Shamsuddin Abbasi for appointment as SHC’s additional judges for one year. According to procedure, JCP’s recommendations will be forwarded to the Parliamentary Committee on Appointment of Judges for consideration. The JCP, headed by CJP, recommends the appointment of judges to the Supreme Court, High Courts and the Federal Shariat Court under Article 175A.
Published in Daily Times, January 19th 2018.
