Judicial Commission of Pakistan

The second meeting of the Rule-making Committee constituted to review Judicial Commission of Pakistan Rules 2010, convened today i.e. 29th December,2023, under the co-chairmanship of Mr. Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Manzoor Ahmed Malik, former Judge, Supreme Court of Pakistan to finalise the draft rules of procedure for the Commission in making appointments of the Judges of the Constitutional Courts of the country, that comply with the collegial and inclusive decision-making process enshrined in Article 175-A of the Constitution. The draft Rules covered the following areas for amendments in the 2010 Rules:

1. Process for convening meetings of the Commission and making decisions therein.
2. Initiation of nomination(s) in the Supreme Court;

• Initiation of nomination(s) in the High Courts;

1. Adequate representation of the District Judiciary and the Bar for elevation.
3. Criteria for selection for appointment of Judges to the Supreme Court and the High Courts;

• Confirmation of Additional Judges in the High Courts; and
• Establishment of a Secretariat of the Commission, appointment of the Secretary and other staff thereto.

2. The Committee received valuable and insightful suggestions and recommendations sent by the following co-opted members:-
3. Mrs. Justice Ayesha A. Malik, Hon’ble Judge, Supreme Court of Pakistan
4. Ms. Justice Musarrat Hilali, Hon’ble Judge, Supreme Court of Pakistan
5. Mrs. Justice Kausar Sultana Hussain, Hon’ble Judge, High Court of Sindh
6. Ms. Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz, Hon’ble Judge, Islamabad High Court
7. Ms. Mahrukh Aziz, District and Sessions Judge (Retd.), Punjab
8. Mr. Hayat Ali Shah, District and Sessions Judge (Retd.), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
9. Mr. Imdad Hussain Khoso, District and Sessions Judge (Retd.), Sindh
10. Mr. Rashid Mehmood, District and Sessions Judge (Retd.), Balochistan
11. Ms. Hina Jilani, Advocate Supreme Court

10.Ms. Reema Omer, Legal Advisor, International Commission of Jurists

11.Mr. Rafiullah Kakar, Public Sector Governance Expert

While expressing gratitude to the above members, the Committee also incorporated the suggestions/recommendations received from the co-opted members and also considered to seek input from Justice Aalia Neelum, Judge, Lahore High Court, whose name was inadvertently not mentioned in the co-opted members. The Committee deliberated upon the 2^nd revised draft of the proposed Rules and after threadbare discussions approved the same with few amendments. The approved draft Rules will be placed before the Judicial Commission of Pakistan in its next meeting for finalisation.

Secretary

Judicial Commission of Pakistan