First-Ever Voting: The Chief Justice of Pakistan, Qazi Faez Isa, will chair the Judicial Commission to determine the next Chief Justice of Lahore High Court. The meeting will occur inside the Supreme Court’s convention room at 3 PM.
Candidates for Chief Justice
The commission will consider three candidates: Acting Chief Justice Shujaat Ali Khan, Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, and Justice Aalia Neelum. This procedure has changed: instead of automatically nominating the senior-most judge as chief justice. The chief justice will be selected from among the top three judges this time.
Composition of the Judicial Commission
The Judicial Commission has twelve members:
- Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa
- Supreme Court Justices Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Muneeb Akhtar, Yahya Afridi and Aminuddin Khan
- Two retired judges-Justice (R)Manzoor Ahmed Malik and Justice (R) Sardar Tariq Masood
- Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar
- Provincial Law Minister Malik Shoaib
- Attorney General
- Member Pakistan Bar Council Akhtar Hussain
- Member Punjab Bar Council Asad Mehmood Abbasi
Voting Process
Voting begins with the senior judge, Justice Shujaat Ali Khan. If a majority is attained, he will then be declared as a nominee for Lahore High Court chief justice without further voting. Should he fail to get it, voting proceeds to Judge Ali Baqir Najafi, followed by his counterpart, Aalia Neehum, if necessary. The person who receives support from most members will become appointed as a chief justice at the Lahore High Court.
This new system guarantees more comprehensive selection criteria for the next Chief justice, promoting a level playing field in his or her selection. The outcome of this voting will set a significant precedent for future appointments within the judiciary. Legal experts and practitioners eagerly observe the proceedings and results of the highly anticipated meeting.
