ISLAMABAD, Aug. 11 (Alliance News): President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday approved the appointment of additional judges to five high courts and confirmed several additional judges as permanent judges, according to an official statement issued by the Presidency.
The president approved the appointment of additional judges to the Lahore High Court (LHC), Sindh High Court (SHC), Peshawar High Court (PHC), Islamabad High Court (IHC) and Balochistan High Court (BHC).
He also approved the confirmation of a number of additional judges serving in the Lahore and Sindh High Courts as permanent judges.
The approvals came a day after the Islamabad High Court sought responses from the president and the prime minister regarding a delay in approving a summary related to judicial appointments.
During Monday’s hearing, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir questioned the status of the summary, observing that more than 18 days had passed since it had been forwarded for presidential approval.
The court issued notices to the president and the prime minister through their respective secretaries, directing them to submit replies by Tuesday.
The proceedings arose from a petition filed by Advocate Luqman Zafar, who argued that nominations for high court judges approved by the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) during its meetings on July 20 and 21 had been forwarded to the president through the prime minister under Article 175A(8) of the Constitution but remained pending.
In its written order, the court directed the federal government and the Ministry of Law and Justice to submit reports explaining when the summary had been forwarded to the president and what action had been taken afterward.
The court also sought an explanation regarding the constitutional implications of delaying advice on judicial appointments beyond the prescribed period.
Judges’ salaries and benefits revised
Separately, President Zardari approved measures to align the salaries, allowances and pensions of judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan with those serving in the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC).
He also approved amendments to the High Court Judges (Leave, Pension and Other Benefits) Order, 1997, bringing the benefits package in line with the revised judicial framework.
Haroon Akhtar appointed PM’s adviser
In a separate decision, the president approved the appointment of Haroon Akhtar Khan as Adviser to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production, the official statement said.
