IHC moved over delay in presidential nod for judicial appointments

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has moved to intervene in the delay faced by President Asif Ali Zardari in granting his assent to a summary forwarded by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for the appointment and confirmation of judges to various high courts. The petition, filed by advocate Luqman Zafar Chaudhary, challenges the president's inaction, which he argues violates Article 48(1) of the Constitution.

This article stipulates that the president must act on and in accordance with the advice of the Cabinet or the prime minister. The JCP, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi, had recommended 19 additional judges and the confirmation of five judges during meetings held on July 20 and 21. The summary was forwarded to the president for assent under Article 48 of the Constitution, but the oath-taking ceremony for the newly recommended judges was indefinitely postponed after the president neither granted assent nor returned it.

This delay, according to the petition, is crippling the administration of justice, delaying case disposal, and infringing on the fundamental right to access justice and a fair trial.

Brief written by urgent.news from Dawn's own syndicated text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.