JCP nominates Justice Aminuddin Khan as head of SC constitutional bench

Islamabad: The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) on Tuesday nominated Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan as head of the constitutional bench by majority of 7-5.

CJP Afridi, senior-most judges Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Muneeb Akhtar and opposition PTI members Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz were among the members voted against the decision.

JCP also nominated six other judges as the member of this constitutional bench, includes judges from all provinces; Justice Amin-ud-Din and Justice Ayesha Malik from Punjab, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi from Sindh, Justice ⁠Jamal Khan Mandokhail and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan from Balochistan and Justice Musarrat Hilali from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

The newly-appointed chief justice chaired the first meeting after the reconstitution of the top judicial body in line with the 26th Amendment.

The meeting was attended by senior puisne judge Justice Shah, Justice Akhtar, Justice Amin-Ud-din, Senator Farooq H Naek, MNA Sheikh Aftab Ahmad, MNA Omar Ayub, Roshan Khursheed Bharucha, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Senator Shibli Faraz, Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan, and Pakistan Bar Council representative Akhtar Hussain.

As per the 26th Constitutional Amendment, the strength of the Judicial Commission is 13 members. The judicial commission is mandated to appoint judges to the Supreme Court, high courts, and the Federal Shariat Court (FSC).