Commission recommends elevation of Justice Arab

The Judicial Commission on Appointment of Superior Courts Judges on Wednesday recommended elevation of Chief Justice Sindh High Court Justice Faisal Arab as a judge of Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, who is also Chairman of the Commission, presided over the meeting where members of the Commission including Supreme Court judge Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, former judge of the apex court Justice Tariq Pervez, Attorney General for Pakistan Salman Aslam Butt, Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Pervez Rashid and member Pakistan Bar Council Yasin Azad also present.
The Commission recommended the elevation of Justice Faisal Arab, Chief Justice of Sindh High Court, as a Judge to the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
The name of Justice Sajad Ali Shah as Chief Justice of Sindh High Court was also recommended who at present is the senior most Judge of the Sindh High Court.
With the recommendation of elevation of Justice Faisal Arab, the 17-judge strength of the apex court will be completed.
Later, Chairman, Executive Committee, Pakistan Bar Council Muhammad Ahsan Bhoon issued a press statement saying, "The Pakistan Bar Council and the legal fraternity read with grave concern the desire expressed by the Judicial Commission to appoint Ad-hoc Judges to the Supreme Court. Any such move would severely undermine the independence of the Judiciary and loss of confidence in it. There are several unanimous Resolutions of the Pakistan Bar Council and the Supreme Court Bar Association opposing such appointments. A judge who has retired must not be encouraged to be reappointed as it effects the image of the institution. This practice had dragged down the image of the Supreme Court earlier because of constant adhocism. The Pakistan Bar Council urges that the Judicial Commission reverse its decision as it may give temporary relief but in the long term it places an objectionable precedent that has been criticised by every faction of the Bar Councils and Bar Associations."
The Judicial Commission was constituted under the 18th Amendment in the Constitution. The Commission will send its recommendations to the Parliamentary Committee for approval of these Judges.