ISLAMABAD: An in-camera meeting of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) on Saturday nominated Justice Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry as Lahore High Court (LHC) chief justice after the retirement of incumbent Chief Justice Khawaja Muhammad Sharif on December 8.
The nomination of Justice Chaudhry, who is the most senior judge of the LHC, will be sent to the Parliamentary Committee, which will send it to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, who will then forward it to President Asif Ali Zardari for a formal approval. Justice Chaudhry was appointed LHC additional judge on May 2, 2001. He had refused to take oath under the PCO on November 3, 2007.
According to sources, the JCP also discussed about the judges to be elevated to the Supreme Court against the vacant posts. Besides, appointment for Islamabad High Court chief justice was also discussed. The commission’s meeting was attended by two most senior judges of the Supreme Court – Justice Javed Iqbal and Justice Shakirullah Jan, the LHC chief justice, Law Minister Babar Awan, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, Attorney General Moulvi Anwarul Haq and a member each from the Pakistan Bar Council and the Punjab Bar Council.
Separately, talking to reporters at the Supreme Court, Law Minister Babar Awan said the appointment of superior courts’ judges will be transparent. Awan said the Islamabad High Court will start functioning from December 13 and it is for the second time that during a new high court will start working in Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) tenure.
