CJP Brings Justice Munib Back in Judges’ Committee

Web Desk — Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi has taken some crucial administrative measures soon after taking oath on Saturday. The CJP brings justice Munib Akhtar back in the SC Practice and Procedure Committee – the 3 member key panel established for the purpose of fixing cases and forming benches.

President Asif Ali Zardari, on September 20, approved the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Amendment Ordinance 2024, allowing the CJP to pick any judge of the apex court to be the third member of the body.

The then-CJP Isa exercised his powers under the amended law, replacing Justice Munib Akhtar with Justice Amin-Ud-Din Khan.

Justice Shah expressed his concerns the way Justice Akhtar was removed from the Judges’ Committee. He wrote a letter to the then CJP Isa that he would not attend meetings of the Judges’ Committe to register his protest.

The then-CJP Isa replied to Justice Shah saying legally he could not be asked about why he nominated a judge as the committee’s third member. Yet, the former CJP gave reasons for his action, saying he did it because he “always advocated accountability and transparency”.

The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) has also been reconstituted with CJP Afridi becoming the chairman. The SJC also includes Justice Mansoor, Justice Akhtar and chief justices of the high courts.