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JCP ALLOWS ACTING CHIEF JUSTICES OF HIGH COURTS TO ‘CONTINUE SERVING TOP ROLES’ Wednesday, 2 July, 2025 | 6 Muharram, 1447
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JCP MEETING CHAIRED BY JUSTICE YAHYA AFRIDIA, HOLDS FOUR CONSECUTIVE MEETINGS TO MAKE A DECISION ON APPOINTMENTS OF CJS
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XV No 354 | 8 Pages | Lahore Edition
LETTERS ISSUED TO PM’S PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, INFORMING ABOUT THE NOMINATIONS AND REQUESTING TO FORWARD THE SAME TO THE PRESIDENT FOR THEIR APPOINTMENT
PHC temporarily bars oath-taking on reserved seats in KP Assembly PESHAWAR
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ISLAMABAD
staff report
HE Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) on Tuesday decided to allow the acting chief justices of all the four high courts to continue serving in the top roles, according to a statement issued by the Supreme Court. The JCP, convened with Justice Yahya Afridi, held four consecutive meetings to make a decision related to the appointments and reached a consensus in each meeting to allow the acting chief justices to continue serving in the top roles, the SC statement said. It added that subsequently letters were issued to the prime minister’s principal secretary, informing the government about the nominations and requesting the forwarding of the same to the president for their appointment.
The letters said that Justice Sarfraz Dogar was nominated as the new chief justice of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), Justice Rozi Khan Barrech as the chief justice for the Balochistan High Court (BHC), Justice Syed Muhammad Attique Shah for the Peshawar High Court, and Justice Junaid Ghaffar for the Sindh High Court (SHC). Justice S.M. Atiq Shah, second on the seniority list of Peshawar High Court judges, was selected over other candidates, including Justice Ejaz Anwar and Justice Arshad Ali, after a thorough evaluation. However, the appointment faced opposition from Supreme Court Justices Mansoor Ali Shah and Munib Akhtar, as well as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Law Minister and two PTI-nominated JCP members. Justice Mansoor Ali Shah raised objections during the meeting, arguing that decisions on the 26th Constitutional Amendment should take precedence. Jus-
The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Tuesday issued a restraining order, temporarily barring the oath-taking on reserved seats in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly. A two-member bench comprising Justice Syed Arshad Ali and Justice Dr. Khurshid Iqbal heard the petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf Parliamentarians (PTI-P) challenging the allocation of reserved seats. The petitioner’s counsel, Advocate Sultan Muhammad Khan, argued that the Election Commission miscalculated the allocation of reserved seats, stating that PTI-P, which held two general seats in the provincial assembly, was wrongfully granted only one women’s reserved seat. When questioned by the bench, the lawyer confirmed that PTIP had submitted its priority list for the reserved seats. He further maintained that PTI-P was entitled to two women’s seats and one minority seat. The petitioner requested that the
tice Munib Akhtar, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Law Minister, and the two PTI members supported this stance. Despite the dissent, the majority vote secured Justice Shah’s appointment, with the President of Pakistan expected to issue a formal notification soon, followed
oath-taking of members on these disputed reserved seats be halted. In response, the court issued notices to the Election Commission and directed that no oath be administered to the concerned members until the next hearing. On Friday, the Supreme Court’s constitutional bench ruled that the Pakistan PTI was not entitled to seats reserved for women and minorities in the national and provincial assemblies. The court, in a 7-3 majority decision, accepted the review petitions, nullifying the July 12 judgment while upholding the decision of the Peshawar High Court. “Initially, this Constitutional Bench was constituted for the hearing of the aforesaid review petitions by 13 honorable judges of this court, but two of them—Justice Ayesha A. Malik and Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi—on the first date of hearing dismissed all the review petitions,” the short order read. “For detailed reasons to be recorded later, by majority of seven, all civil review petitions are allowed and the impugned majority judgment dated July 12, 2024, is set aside,” the order read.
by an oath-taking ceremony by mid-July. On Saturday, President Asif Ali Zardari had already formally declared Justice Dogar the “senior-most judge” of the IHC, following the issuance of a revised seniority list by the Ministry of Law and Justice.
PM Sharif pays tribute to Iranian martyrs, reaffirming solidarity during Iranian Embassy visit ISLAMABAD
staff report
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif visited the Iranian Embassy on Tuesday to express his deepest condolences to the people and government of Iran. The visit was a gesture of solidarity following the recent Israeli aggression against Iran. During his visit, the prime minister paid tribute to the resilience and courage of the Iranian nation in the face of the crisis, offering prayers for those who had embraced martyrdom and for the swift recovery of the injured. He also signed the condolence book that had been opened by the Iranian mission to honor the martyrs and those wounded during the Israeli attacks. Accompanying the prime minister were Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi, and the Foreign Secretary. The delegation was warmly received by Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghaddam and his senior colleagues. Prime Minister Sharif assured the Iranian side of Pakistan’s unwavering support during this difficult time and conveyed his personal good wishes and respect to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Dr. Massoud Pezeshkian. The visit highlighted Pakistan’s consistent commitment to supporting Iran in the wake of the recent conflict and reaffirmed the strong bonds of friendship and solidarity between the two nations.