Chief Justice, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has already called the first ever meeting of the Commission on November 6 to make and initiate the process of filling the actual and anticipated vacancies in the superior judiciary. – File Photo

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan/Chairman Judicial Commission on Tuesday accepted the resignation of Retd Justice Ali Hussain Qazilbash, a nominated member of the Commission.  Justice Retd Qazilbash has tendered resignation due to health reasons.

In his letter addressed to the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Qazilbash conveyed his deep gratitude for conferring upon him the privilege to be nominated as Member of the Commission and to serve a national cause by being involved in the process of nominating judges of the superior courts, said in a press release issued on Tuesday.

He conveyed his regrets for his inability to undertake the assignment due to acute heart ailment, and requested the Chief Justice of Pakistan, to be relieved of this responsibility.

After his resignation, the Chief Justice/Chairman has initiated the process of consultation with two most senior Judges of the Supreme Court, as required under Article 175A of the Constitution, for nominating a suitable member to substitute him.

Justice Ali Hussain Qazilbash, former Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, who was nominated as Member of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan after a consultation among the Chief Justice as Chairman of the Commission with two senior most judges of the apex Court.

The Chief Justice, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has already called the first ever meeting of the Commission on November 6 to make and initiate the process of filling the actual and anticipated vacancies in the superior judiciary.

The Judicial Commission headed by Iftikhar Chaudhry and two senior most judges of the apex Court, one retired judge, the attorney general for Pakistan, Law minister and a senior member of Pakistan Bar Council, would hold meetings for making appointments.

The process for appointments to judiciary was envisaged under Article 175A inserted through 18th Amendment in the Constitution.

Upon October 21, a 17-member bench through its order on a number of identical writs challenging the process, had maintained that all cases of fresh appointments of Judges of the Supreme Court, of the Federal Shariat Court, of the High Courts and of Additional Judges of the latter Courts shall be processed forthwith under Article 175A.

A process for constitution of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan was started on October 23 in which Ali Hussain Qazilbash, former Judge of Supreme Court and Mian Allah Nawaz former Chief Justice, Lahore High Court were nominated. The Pakistan Bar Council has also elected Dr Khalid Ranjha as member of the Commission.

In the scheduled meeting, the Commission will take up retirement issue of the incumbent Chief Justice, Lahore High Court who will attain the age of superannuation on December 8. – APP