The Judicial Commission of Pakistan has unanimously endorsed a proposal to nominate all incumbent Sindh High Court judges to be part of the constitutional benches to clear the backlog of cases.

“The commission unanimously endorsed the proposal put forth by the Sindh High Court Chief Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui that all the existing judges of the high court are nominated to be the judges of the constitutional benches for expeditious disposal of the existing huge backlog of cases,” said the statement of the JCP on Friday.

The JCP added that such an arrangement would remain effective until November 24. “The matter will again be taken by the JCP on November 25.” Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi presided over the JCP’s second meeting in Islamabad.

The commission met to consider a single-point agenda for the formation of a constitutional bench within the Sindh High Court.

Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Ameen-ud-Din Khan and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail (via video link); SHC Chief Justice Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui; Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar; Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan; PPP Senator Farooq Hamid Naek; SIC Senator Syed Shibli Faraz; PML-N MNA Sheikh Aftab Ahmad; SIC MNA Omar Ayub Khan; PBC representative Roshan Khurshid Barucha, Sindh Law Minister Zia ul Hassan Lanjar; Sindh Bar Council member Qurban Ali Malano attended the meeting. The SC registrar also attended as secretary to the commission.

After the meeting, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar told reporters that various judges’ names were under consideration and all judges of the high court would be able to hear constitutional cases until November 25.

He added that Justice Mandokhel arrived late to the meeting due to his flight and member Akhtar Hussain was also absent because his wife was unwell.

It is noteworthy that on November 5, a seven-member constitutional bench was established under the leadership of Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan during a meeting of the JCP.

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The first meeting of the JCP was held to discuss the nomination of judges for constitutional benches in light of the 26th Constitutional Amendment.

Seven out of the twelve members of the commission voted in favour of Justice Amin-ud-Din’s appointment while five members opposed it.

The announcement noted that the CJP had suggested establishing a specific term for the constitutional bench.