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ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday issued a ruling on a public interest petition challenging President Asif Ali Zardari’s delay in approving judicial appointments, directing the government to explain the constitutional consequences of keeping the premier’s advice pending for an indefinite period.
Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, who had reserved the order on the maintainability of the petition on August 6, issued notices to the president, the federation of Pakistan and the attorney general. He directed them to file separate concise reports explaining the timeline and status of the summary forwarded by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for judicial appointments.
The petition was filed by advocate Luqman Zafar through his counsel Zahid Asif Chaudhry amid a presidential delay in approving the judicial appointments recommended by the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP).
The JCP, headed by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, recommended the appointment of 19 additional judges and the confirmation of five judges to high courts during meetings on July 20 and 21. The summary was subsequently forwarded by PM Shehbaz to President Zardari for assent under Article 48 of the Constitution. However, the president has yet to assent to the summary.
