Justices Abbasi, Najafi inducted into Supreme Court constitutional bench

• JCP meeting presided by CJP attended by all members on Thursday.
• After latest nominations, constitutional bench strength stands at 15.
• Sources say PTI members refrain from voting in two judges' favour.

ISLAMABAD: Two more Supreme Court judges, Justice Aqeel Abbasi and Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, have been inducted into the apex court's constitutional bench after the approval by Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP), The News reported.

The commission, presided over by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi, met at the Supreme Court on Thursday to consider the nomination of the two judges for the Constitutional Bench. The meeting was attended by all the members on Thursday.

As per the official statement issued by the apex court, the meeting nominated Justice Abbasi and Justice Najafi, for the constitutional bench by majority. After the nomination, the strength of the bench stands at 15.

Meanwhile, it was learnt that Justice Abbassi was nominated by the commission for the constitutional bench by majority eight votes while Justice Najafi got two votes.

Similarly, according to sources, Barrister Gohar Ali and Barrister Senator Ali Zafar, representing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in the commission, refrained from voting in favour of the two judges, nominated for the constitutional bench.

It was learnt that the PTI members emphasised that rules should be set first for induction of judges into the constitutional bench. It was further learnt that the PTI representatives proposed the names Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Athar Minallah, and Justice Shahid Waheed on the basis of seniority.

Meanwhile, a full court meeting was also held here Thursday at the Supreme Court with CJP Afridi in the chair. The recommendations of the Pakistan Bar Council regarding the enrolment of former judges of the high courts as advocates of the Supreme Court, matter of right to access to information, asset declaration process and the draft Supreme Court Rules, 2025 were deliberated upon and appropriate directions were issued.

All the judges gave their candid and valuable input. The forum specially appreciated the working of the Supreme Court Rules Amendment Committee and the office of the registrar.

Similarly, it was unanimously agreed to hold the next full court meeting soon to support the reform process initiated in the Supreme Court.