Two ex-CJPs among judges being considered for inquiry commission

ISLAMABAD: The federal government is considering five to six names for the proposed judicial commission to investigate the allegations leveled by Islamabad High Court judges.

However, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wants a retired Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to head the commission.

A well-placed source informed The News that the prime minister has four names in his mind whom he wants to head the inquiry commission. Among the former chief justices, Justice (R) Nasirul Mulk or Justice (R) Tassaduq Hussain Jillani is the top priority of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif to lead the investigations into Islamabad High Court judges’ allegations. The two other names which are being considered by the prime minister are Justice (R) Mushir Alam or Justice Manzoor Malik in case of the two names mentioned above recuse themselves to head the commission. The source informed that the prime minister has directed the legal team in the government to appoint a retired chief justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and approach them. However, the options are limited as several retired chief justices’ names are controversial and it will be hard to build consensus on their names.

The prime minister wants someone to head the commission who is acceptable across the board and no one can point a finger in his integrity. For this purpose only two names of retired chief justices are being considered. But, it is not clear whether they accept this job or not because the government is yet to approach them once their names are finalised.

The sources further informed that the government will finalise the name after consultation with the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Qazi Faez Isa.

The federal cabinet was supposed to meet on Friday March 30 to discuss and approve the constitution of the commission. Since the names have not been finalised yet, the cabinet meeting was postponed, informed the source. It is important to note here that on March 26, Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa received a letter from six judges of Islamabad High Court. The same day he held a meeting with these judges at his residence. The following day he held a meeting with the law minister, attorney general and President Supreme Court Bar Association. Later, a full court meeting of the Supreme Court’s all judges was held in the apex court building. The full court of the Supreme Court advised the chief justice to hold a meeting with the prime minister to discuss the matter.

During the meeting it was proposed to constitute an inquiry commission which should be headed by a retired judge of impeccable integrity to inquire into the matter. The prime minister undertook that a meeting of the federal cabinet will be called to seek its approval for the constitution of the said commission.