Supreme Judicial Council to meet today under Chief Justice Afridi

ISLAMABAD: A meeting of the seven-member Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) is scheduled to be held today (Thursday) under the chairmanship of Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi.

According to the details available, the meeting will include Federal Constitutional Court Chief Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, Supreme Court judges Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail and Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi. Lahore High Court Chief Justice Aalia Neelum and Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar are also members of the council.

Possible change in participation

It is learnt that the composition of the meeting could change if complaints concerning any serving judge of the Islamabad High Court come up for consideration. In that situation, Justice Dogar may not take part in the proceedings.

If that happens, Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Syed Muhammad Atique Shah is likely to attend the meeting in his place as a member of the council.

Complaint against IHC judge pending

A complaint against a judge of the Islamabad High Court is currently pending before the Supreme Judicial Council.

The SJC is the constitutional forum tasked with examining complaints against judges. Thursday’s meeting is set to take place under the leadership of Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, with the council’s regular members expected to attend unless recusal becomes necessary in connection with any matter involving the Islamabad High Court.

The expected participation of the chief justices of the Lahore High Court and the Islamabad High Court reflects the council’s current seven-member structure. Alongside them, the presence of senior judges from the Supreme Court and the Federal Constitutional Court means the forum will convene with representation from the superior judiciary’s top tiers.

According to the information available, the key issue surrounding the meeting is whether any complaint involving a serving IHC judge is formally taken up. If that occurs, the council may proceed without the participation of IHC Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar, and the Peshawar High Court chief justice would likely join in his stead.

No further agenda items for the meeting were specified in the report.