Ad hoc judges get CJs nod to continue

Supreme Court has ordered extension in the tenure of some 32 additional judges of all the four High Courts on Monday. Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry gave the directives of extension during a full-court hearing of a case regarding the promotion of 32 judges of Balochistan High Court to Supreme Court. According to Dunya News reporter, the apex court added that the judges would continue with their services till the final ruling in the cases against 18th amendment. The SC gave AG an hour time to consult the PM in order to clarify governments stance on judges appointment issue. The AG told the court that sans scrapping any clause of the 18th amendment, extension orders could be issued, and added that the govt would set up a parliamentary committee within few days on the said issue. It merits to mention that all the judges were to be retired next month (Sep 5). Earlier, Justice Saqib Nisar warned that delay in judges appointment issue would completely damage Balochistans court system. His remarks came during. Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq read the BHCs letter in the court in which CJ BHC complained against neglect regarding the judges issue. Meanwhile, the government sought names of the retired judges from Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry a judicial commission on judges appointment while Pakistan Bar Council has also been contacted to nominate a lawyers name in this respect.