Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan Leads New Seven-Member Constitutional Bench
Pakistan's Judicial Commission forms a seven-member constitutional bench in a split decision, highlighting new appointments under the 26th Amendment.
ISLAMABAD: In a closely split 7-5 vote, the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP), under Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, has set up a seven-member constitutional bench led by Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, aligning with the 26th Amendment. While the majority supported the bench’s formation, Chief Justice Afridi, along with Justices Mansoor Ali Shah, Muneeb Akhtar, and PTI members Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz, voted against the decision.
The bench includes judges from all provinces: Justice Amin-ud-Din and Justice Ayesha Malik from Punjab; Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi from Sindh; Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan from Balochistan; and Justice Musarrat Hilali from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The announcement came after Chief Justice Afridi's first meeting since the JCP's reformation. The meeting was attended by senior judicial members, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, and Pakistan Bar Council’s Akhtar Hussain, reflecting the expanded 13-member structure under the 26th Amendment.
The JCP's role, defined by Article 175-A, now includes the Chief Justice, two senators, two MNAs, the three senior-most Supreme Court judges, the senior-most constitutional bench judge, the Attorney General, and a seasoned advocate. A woman or non-Muslim parliamentarian will also serve on the panel for a two-year term. This constitutional body is responsible for appointing judges to the Supreme Court, high courts, and the Federal Shariat Court.
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