ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) will meet today (Friday) to discuss the appointment of ad hoc judges for a period of three years in the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa will preside over the meeting which will be held at 3pm. The meeting will review the pros and cons of appointment of ad hoc judges in the Supreme Court.
Justices Tariq Masood, Mazhar Alam Miankhel, Maqbool Baqir and Mushir Alam were named for appointment in the apex court as ad hoc judges.
However, retired Justices Mushir Alam and Maqbool Baqir declined the offer.
On the other hand, Sardar Tariq Masood agreed to be part of the Supreme Court as an ad hoc judge. Another retired judge, Mazhar Alam Miankhel, also expressed his willingness for the ad hoc judge appointment.
According to sources, the appointment of ad hoc judges aims to reduce the burden of pending cases on the apex court. A retired judge can be appointed as an ad hoc judge for a period of three years.
PTI CHALLENGES MOVE
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-insaf (PTI) has announced that it will move the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) to challenge the appointment of ad hoc judges in the apex court - a move which the party describes as "tantamount to denouncing the freedom of judiciary".
GOVT DEFENDS DECISION
Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarar, on the other hand, supported the appointment of ad hoc judges, saying the constitution allows it and the Judicial Commission of Pakistan, not the chief justice, appoints them.