CJ has no say in judges' appointment: Justice Shakir

The apex court Tuesday resumed the hearing of some petitions challenging some of the provisions of the 18th amendment. A 17-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, was hearing the petitions. During the course of proceedings, Justice Shakir Ullha Jan observed that as per the new judicial commission formation, consultation with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is not regarding judges appointment. On the other hand, Advocate Hamid Khan argued that judicial commission is acceptable only sans the law minister and attorney general. The CJ remarked that the documents vis--vis judges conduct is being perused by the administration, and questioned that how the system would run, if everybody were excluded. He added that the no oath is being administered to the attorney general than what could be expected from him. Justice Shakir Ullah said that the process of judges appointment be started from judiciary, while Justice Ramday stated that the clause of the judicial commission did away with a 150-year-old tradition of judges appointment, and added that in the past even those were made judges, who were accused of murders. Hamid Khan argued that inclusion of law minister in the judicial body is equal to snapping of judiciarys freedom.