ISLAMABAD — In a major round of appointments, the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) on Tuesday confirmed new permanent chief justices for four of the country’s most prominent high courts — a move that comes as internal debates over judicial seniority continue to simmer.
Chaired by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, the commission gave the green light for Justice SM Attique Shah to head the Peshawar High Court, choosing him over two other contenders, Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Arshad Ali. Justice Shah’s appointment marks a pivotal step in strengthening judicial leadership in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
For Balochistan, Justice Rozi Khan was selected as the new chief justice, topping the seniority list among nominees. He edged out fellow judges Justice Muhammad Kamran Khan and Justice Iqbal Ahmed Kasi, thanks to his experience and position within the provincial judiciary.
In Sindh, the choice was straightforward — Justice Muhammad Junaid Ghaffar, currently the most senior judge of the Sindh High Court, was appointed with full consensus.
Meanwhile, the decision for the Islamabad High Court (IHC) saw more intense deliberations. After weighing the names of Justice Sarfraz Dogar, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, the JCP confirmed Justice Sardar Sarfraz Dogar as the new chief justice. He reportedly secured nine votes in his favor, with his seniority being a key factor in the majority’s decision.
However, the appointment hasn’t gone without pushback.
Speaking to reporters outside the Supreme Court, Senator Ali Zafar — a JCP member and PTI leader — maintained that only the senior-most judge should be considered for such appointments. He pointed to an ongoing intra-court appeal related to IHC judge seniority, stressing that no decisions should have been finalized before that matter was resolved.
This appeal was filed by five IHC judges who are challenging a Supreme Court order that approved the transfer of three judges, including Acting CJ Sarfraz Dogar, to the IHC. They’ve also requested that the transferred judges be restrained from exercising any judicial or administrative powers until the matter is settled.
The appeal was filed through prominent legal counsels Muneer A Malik and Barrister Salahuddin Ahmed, keeping the issue of judicial transparency and appointments firmly in the spotlight.
As the new appointments move forward, the legal community will be watching closely to see how the court handles the seniority debate — a subject that could shape how future judicial leadership is chosen.
