Senior lawyer Akhtar Hussain said that due to the ongoing controversy over recent judicial appointments, he had resigned from his position as a member of Pakistan’s Judicial Commission.

Speaking on Aaj News’ programme “Spotlight”, hosted by Munizae Jahangir, Hussain said that despite years of efforts to amend the commission’s rules, meaningful reforms were never implemented.

“We tried for four to five years to amend the Judicial Commission’s rules, eliminate discrimination, and enforce the principle of seniority,” Hussain said.

He added that the Pakistan Bar Council had repeatedly nominated him unopposed, reflecting a consensus among legal representatives.

Resistance to reforms and judicial dominance

Hussain highlighted that judicial members of the commission consistently resisted changes, making meaningful consultation with bar representatives difficult.

“Judges had a majority in decision-making, leaving legal representatives with little influence,” he explained.

Despite continuous lobbying for parliamentary oversight and structural changes, the commission remained unyielding.

He also pointed out that previous chief justices were unwilling to address the perceived discrimination in judicial appointments.

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“Through their judgments, they rendered the parliamentary committee ineffective, leading to demands for constitutional amendments and the establishment of a federal constitutional court,” Hussain stated.

Concerns over 26th Amendment

Commenting on the impact of the 26th Amendment, Hussain warned that if non-judicial members in the newly constituted commission made decisions based solely on majority votes, it could further destabilise the system.

“This would raise serious questions about the credibility of the process,” he noted.

Hussain formally submitted his resignation to Judicial Commission Chairman Justice Yahya Afridi, stating, “I can no longer continue under these circumstances.”

He emphasised his commitment to judicial independence and reform, thanking the Pakistan Bar Council for its support.

Despite stepping down, Hussain vowed to continue working towards judicial integrity and institutional reforms, underscoring the need for a transparent and merit-based system in Pakistan’s judiciary.