PPP stalwart Farooq Naek resigns from Judicial Commission of Pakistan

Farooq H. Naek, a senior figure within the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), has announced his resignation from the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP). The JCP is a constitutional body responsible for appointing judges to the superior judiciary of Pakistan. Naek, who has also held the position of chairman in the upper house of Parliament, cited personal commitments as the reason for his departure.

In a letter to Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Naek expressed his gratitude for the honor of serving on the JCP. Over the years, Naek has made significant contributions to the Pakistani judiciary as both a lawyer and a policymaker. He represented PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari in a presidential reference before the Supreme Court related to the murder case of former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

Additionally, Naek appeared in various constitutional petitions before the Supreme Court, including cases on reserved seats, accountability laws, presidential immunities, and disputes between provincial assemblies. Despite his long-standing association with the PPP for three decades, Naek gained prominence for his defense of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and President Asif Ali Zardari in multiple corruption and criminal cases during Pervez Musharraf's rule.

As Law Minister, Naek defended the federal government in a high-profile graft case against Zardari. In 2012, he cooperated with Swiss legal authorities to reopen a case under the National Reconciliation Order. Naek has been a senator representing Sindh since 2003 and held the position of Law Minister after the 2008 general elections, a role he also assumed after his term as Senate chairman.