PM’s approval sought for next CJP appointment – Newspaper

ISLAMABAD: As the President of Supreme Court Asif Saeed Khosa is ready to take off his robe on December 21, the Ministry of Law moved a summary on Friday, seeking the approval of Prime Minister Imran Khan for the lifting of the judge of first instance, the Judge Gulzar Ahmed as the main judge of the country.

When he takes office in the prestigious office, Judge Ahmed, who enjoys the reputation of being one of the most honest and courteous judges of the judiciary, will be the 27th President of the Supreme Court of Pakistan in office until February 21, 2022 .

The decision of the Ministry of Law to send the summary for the approval of the prime minister has put an end to the dizzying speculation that the federal government intends to improve the retirement age of the Supreme Court judges from 65 to 68 years existing.

Speculation gained strength in bars and meetings as part of the recent election campaign of the Bar Association of the Supreme Court after two parliamentarians of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Fakhar Imam and Amjad Khan Niazi, introduced a bill private before the National Assembly in search of to increase the retirement age of SC judges to 68 years.

Judge Gulzar will succeed the Khosa Supreme Court president next month

The bill, which was later referred to the corresponding NA Standing Committee for a fraudulent discussion about it, but is still pending, was aimed at the retirement age of the SC judges and not that of the judges of the higher courts .

The idea sounded the alarms of the judges of the higher courts, while some high-level lawyers feared that the attempt was in fact a bait and others questioned its possibility without first amending Article 179 of the Constitution for which the help of At least two major opposition parties – Pakistan The Muslim League – Nawaz and the Popular Party of Pakistan – would be necessary.

While talking with Sunrise, The vice president of the Pakistan Bar Council, Syed Amjad Shah, said: "We oppose the concept of extensions, either for the army chief or for the judges." He said that the councils of lawyers believed that this concept denied the rule of law and the strengthening of democratic institutions.

The legal fraternity believes that the next president of the higher court will remove the higher judiciary from disputes and increase the prestige of the institution.

Judge Ahmed, who was part of the five-judge court that disqualified former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the case of the Panama Papers, is also a member of the Supreme Judicial Council (CSJ) and the Judicial Commission of Pakistan.

He is known for strict actions during suo motu's proceedings regarding Karachi as a result of which the metropolitan authorities launched a massive campaign against intrusion and cleanliness, although he also created some consternation among the people. In accordance with article 184 (3) of the Constitution, the Supreme Court enjoys the inherent jurisdiction to directly entertain public interest litigation for the observance of fundamental rights if it is violated or by suo motu notification each time certain important issues.

After Judge Ahmed, Judge Umar Ata Bandial will be next to become president with 19 months of service until August 16, 2023. Judge Qazi Faez Isa will replace Judge Bandial to serve for more than one year until the 25th of October 2024.

Then, Judge Ijazul Ahsan will become the head of the Supreme Court for 10 months until August 4, 2025, while Judge Mansoor Ali Shah will become the president of justice to serve for two years until the 26th of November 2027.

Then Judge Munib Akhtar will be elevated to the position of prestige. It will serve for more than a year until December 13, 2028 to be replaced by Judge Yahya Afridi, who will remain in the upper office for more than a year until January 22, 2030.

Judge Ahmed was born on February 2, 1957 in Karachi in the family of distinguished lawyer Noor Mohammad and made his early education at the Gulistan School, Karachi. He obtained a degree from Government National College, Karachi and a degree from S.M. Faculty of Law, Karachi. He was registered as a defender on January 18, 1986 and as a defender of the Superior Court on April 4, 1988 and then as a defender of the Supreme Court on September 15, 2001.

He was also elected as Honorary Secretary of the Bar Association of the Superior Court of Sindh for the year 1999-2000 and had worked mainly in the civil corporate side and remained as legal advisor to several multinational and local companies, banks and financial institutions.

He became a judge of the SHC on August 27, 2002. He also continued to be a member of the Board of Governors, Institute of Business and Technology, NED University of Engineering and Technology, Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology, University of Iqra, Ahmed EH Jaffer Foundation and Aga Khan University.

Judge Ahmed was notified as chairman of the disciplinary court of the Pakistan Bar Council and the PBC registration committee. He was also notified as a member of the construction committee of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and a principal member of the committee for the Clerkship Law Program, as well as the judge in charge of the Administration of the Establishment of the Supreme Court.

Published on Dawn, November 23, 2019