Top judge reorganises key committees and appoints judges for oversight roles
Court Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Days after six judges were sworn-in as justices of the Supreme Court, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi has formed multiple administrative committees within the apex court.
The top judge has restructured the six-member Case Management Committee, led by him, which includes Justice Naeem Afghan, Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan, and Justice Shafi Siddiqui, along with the Additional registrar and IT director.
The development comes days after Balochistan High Court (BHC) chief Justice Muhammad Hashim Khan Kakar, ex-Sindh High Court (SHC) chief Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui, SHC senior puisne judge Salahuddin Panhwar, Peshawar High Court (PHC) judge Shakeel Ahmad, ex-Islamabad High Court (IHC) chief Justice Aamer Farooq, and ex-PHC chief Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim took oath as SC judges following the approval by President Asif Ali Zardari.
Meanwhile, Justice Miangul Hassan was sworn-in as an acting apex court judge.
In his latest administrative move, CJP Yahya has appointed several judges to oversee anti-terrorism courts in different provinces.
Justice Musarrat Hilali will supervise anti-terrorism courts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, whereas Justice Malik Shahzad will do so in Punjab, Justice Hashim Kakar in Balochistan, Justice Panhwar in Sindh, and Justice Aamer Farooq in Islamabad.
The SC Building Committee will now be headed by Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, with Justice Siddiqui and Justice Aamer Farooq as members.
Meanwhile, CJP Afridi will personally oversee the IT Committee, with Justice Muhammad Ali and Justice Mian Gul Hassan as members.
Other committee appointments include Justice Shahid Bilal leading the Research Centre Committee — with Justice Farooq and Jusitce Siddiqui as members — Justice Muhammad Ali heading the Law Clerkship Programme Committee with Justice Miangul Hassan as a member.
Five judges including the CJP, Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Justice Kakar, Justice Panhwar and Justice Shakeel Ahmad will hear various chamber appeals.
Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi has been given charge of the SC Archive and Museum Committee with Justice Panwhwar and Justice Miangul Hassan as members.
Additionally, Justice Shahzad will chair the committee on model courts and swift justice, while Justice Kakar, Justice Panhwar and Justice Ibrahim will serve as members.
Justice Ibrahim has also been designated as the SC’s security judge, responsible for overseeing security matters at the top court’s building, branch registry, and judges’ colony.
Justice Miangul Hassan has been appointed as the liaison judge for child custody cases under the Pakistan-UK protocol.
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