The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) has approved appointing nine judges for constitutional benches in the Sindh High Court (SHC) with an 11 to 4 majority vote.
The decision was made during the JCP’s third meeting under the 26th Constitutional Amendment. Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi chaired the meeting at the Supreme Court in Islamabad, focusing solely on forming constitutional benches in the SHC.
According to a Supreme Court press release, the commission finalized nine judges for a two-month term after thorough discussions. The decision was passed with an 11 to 4 majority vote.
Justice Muhammad Karim Khan Agha of the SHC has been appointed as the head of the constitutional benches. He will also chair a three-member committee overseeing the formation of these benches.
However, some opposition arose. Senior puisne judge Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Munib Akhtar, and SHC Chief Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui opposed the decision. CJP Afridi abstained from voting.
The nine selected judges are Justice Muhammad Saleem Jessar, Justice Omar Sial, Justice Yousuf Ali Sayeed, Justice Abdul Mobeen Lakho, Justice Zulfiqar Ali Sangi, Justice Sana Akram Minhas, Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro, Justice Arbab Ali Hakro, and Justice KK Agha.
