ISLAMABAD: The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP), headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan, has recommended the appointment and confirmation of 13 judges for the Lahore High Court (LHC) and the Balochistan High Court (BHC), marking a significant step toward addressing judicial vacancies and strengthening the country’s higher judiciary. The recommendations were made during separate meetings of the Commission held at the Supreme Court building in Islamabad under Article 175A(2) of the Constitution. Alongside judicial appointments, the Commission also reviewed proposed amendments to the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (Appointment of Judges) Rules, 2024. According to an official statement, the Commission decided that the proposed amendments to the appointment rules would be circulated among all remaining members of the Commission, including representatives of the Federal Shariat Court and the country’s high courts, for further consideration before final approval. For the Lahore High Court, the Commission, by a majority vote of its members, recommended the confirmation of Justice Tariq Mahmood Bajwa, who has been serving as an additional judge, as a permanent judge of the court. The JCP also approved the appointment of 10 additional judges for the Lahore High Court. The nominees include Amir Ajam Malik, Asad Ali Bajwa, Barrister Muhammad Usman Ghani Rashid Cheema, Ghulam Sarwar Nihang, Khalid Ibn-i-Aziz, Muhammad Ajmal Khan Zahid, Muhammad Amjad Pervaiz, Munawar Iqbal Duggal, Shireen Imran, and Syed Farhad Ali. All are senior advocates of the Supreme Court with extensive legal experience. For the Balochistan High Court, the Commission recommended the appointment of three additional judges against five vacant positions. The nominees are District and Sessions Judge Allah Dad Roshan, Senior Advocate Muhammad Rauf Atta, and District and Sessions Judge Abdul Qayyum Lehri. The Commission decided not to fill the remaining two vacancies at this stage, leaving the positions open for future consideration. The recommendations will now move through the constitutional appointment process before the judges formally assume office. Legal experts say the appointments are expected to help reduce the growing backlog of cases, improve judicial efficiency and strengthen the administration of justice in both Punjab and Balochistan. The JCP’s latest decisions come at a time when Pakistan’s judiciary continues efforts to enhance institutional capacity through timely appointments and procedural reforms. The proposed amendments to the Judicial Commission Rules are also expected to shape future judicial appointments by introducing greater clarity and consistency to the selection process.
