Islamabad (Web Desk): A 12-member Special Parliamentary Committee is set to convene today at 4pm to decide on the appointment of next Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP).
This committee was formed under Article 175A of the amended Constitution, following the passage of the 26th Constitutional Amendment, and was officially announced by the National Assembly (NA) secretariat on Monday evening.
The committee will hold an in-camera meeting to discuss and decide on the appointment, with the new CJP expected to serve a three-year term.
The nomination process began promptly after the legislation was approved by both houses of the Parliament.
A notification issued by the NA stated, "In terms of clause (3B) of Article 175A of the Constitution has been pleased to notify the Special Parliamentary Committee comprising members as per nomination by respective parliamentary leaders based on their strength in Parliament for the nomination of the Chief Justice of Pakistan," the NA notification read.
Those representing their respective parties in the parliamentary committee include, senators Azam Nazeer Tarar from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN), Farooq H Naek from Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Syed Ali Zafar from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and Kamran Murtaza Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F).
Meanwhile, the Members of National Assembly (MNAs) in the committee include, Khawaja Asif, Ahsan Iqbal and Shaista Parvez of PML-N, Raana Ansar from Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Syed Naveed Qamar and Raja Pervez Ashraf from PPP, and Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Sahibzada Hamid Raza from the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC).
As the coalition government has two-thirds majority in the special committee, the forum is set to finalise the nomination at the very first meeting.
It may be noted that the process for appointment of the new chief justice is required to be completed within next three days as incumbent CJP Qazi Faez Isa will retire from his service on October 25.
Under clause 3C of Article 175A, the committee must send a nomination with the approval of at least two-thirds of its total members at least 14 days before the retirement of the Chief Justice. However, the first nomination made under this clause, following the enactment of the Constitution (Twenty-sixth) Act 2024, is required to be submitted within three days prior to the Chief Justice's retirement.
The committee would send names of the nominee to the prime minister, who will forward the same to the President for appointment.
The new CJP would be appointed from amongst Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Yahya Afridi, the three senior most judges of Supreme Court after the incumbent chief justice.
However, the clause (3) of Article 175A also mentioned that if the nominee from amongst three senior most judges declines, the remaining judges from amongst three senior most judges would be considered for nomination.
Earlier on Monday, on the recommendation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari approved the "Constitution (26th Amendment) Bill 2024," which officially became an Act. After receiving presidential assent, the amendment was published in the Gazette of Pakistan.