ISLAMABAD: Justice Qazi Faez Isa on Monday recommended the names of Peshawar High Court Acting Chief Justice Musarrat Hilali and Sindh High Court Chief Justice Ahmed Ali M Shaikh for elevation to the apex court.
He gave the recommendations in a letter sent to the members of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan.
The Judicial Commission is headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, the next senior-most 4 judges, an ex-justice or SC judge, the law minister, the attorney general, and a senior Supreme Court advocate nominated by the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC).
In his letter, Justice Qazi Isa urged that a meeting of the JCP be convened soon to decide the appointments. The apex court comprises of 17 judges, of which 2 positions are currently vacant.
The judge e urged that the JCP meeting consider the names of the 2 judges on the seniority principle.
The body had recommended Justice Shaikh’s appointment as an ad hoc apex court judge in 2021. However, he declined the appointment.
Sheikh had taken oath as the Sindh High Court chief justice on 15 March 2017.
First female CJ of Peshawar High Court
Meanwhile, Justice Hilali took oath as the Peshawar High Court acting chief justice on 1 April 2023 — becoming only the second female judge to be appointed to the position and the first in PHC.
