The matter of appointment of judges through a parliamentary committee has reached the Supreme Court. Justice Athar Minallah said that independence of the judiciary will be affected by the control of intelligence agencies for appointment of judges.
The petition seeking not to appoint Tariq Afridi as additional judge of Peshawar High Court was heard in the Supreme Court.
Advocate Hamid Khan argued that the Judicial Commission approved the appointment of Tariq Afridi as additional judge of Peshawar High Court. He said that despite the recommendation of the Judicial Commission, Tariq Afridi was not appointed as additional judge, because the parliamentary committee rejected his nomination on the report of intelligence agencies.
Justice Athar Minallah remarked that how could intelligence agencies control the appointment of judges? He said that it will affect the independence of the judiciary, the parliamentary committee decided in the light of intelligence reports rather than professionalism.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial said that the court will examine the legality of the case, can the parliamentary committee reject the recommendations of the judicial commission? The Attorney General is called to assist the court.
On the next hearing, the Supreme Court summoned the Attorney General for judicial assistance and adjourned the hearing of the case for a month.
Justice Athar Minallah remarked that how could intelligence agencies control the appointment of judges? He said that it will affect the independence of the judiciary, the parliamentary committee decided in the light of intelligence reports rather than professionalism.
“THE ISSUES OF APPOINTMENTS OF THE JUDGES SHOULD BE CONDITIONAL TO (THEM) BEING FAIR,FREE AND TRANSPARENT ALONG WITH FOLLOWING THE DOCTRINE OF THE SUPREME COURT” VIDE ,SC,1646/15 AFTER THE DECISION OF THE SUPREME JUDICIAL COUNCIL.