PTI decides to become part of Judicial Commission

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to become part of the "Judicial Commission of Pakistan" (JCP) and agreed to nominate members from both houses of the Parliament, 24NewsHD TV Channel reported on Monday.

According to a statement issued by PTI, during the special meeting of the political committee, it was unanimously decided to propose joining the Judicial Commission and to present this decision for endorsement to the core committee and final approval by PTI founder Imran Khan.

The meeting reached a consensus that two proposed names for representation of the opposition in the Judicial Commission will be officially announced after Imran Khan’s approval. Additionally, PTI reiterated its firm stance on the 26th constitutional amendment.

The meeting also included a detailed briefing on the speaker’s letter regarding the opposition’s nominations to the commission. It was noted that the 13-member Judicial Commission's responsibilities include appointing judges to the Supreme Court, high courts, and Federal Shariat Court. The commission is also authorised to oversee high court judges' performance and compile their annual reports, as well as recommend suitable candidates for the high courts.

The PTI political committee was also briefed that the judicial commission is responsible for establishing constitutional benches in the Supreme Court and high courts. A meeting of the commission can be convened by one-third of its members, and decisions will be made by a simple majority, while the absence of a member will not affect the legitimacy of the decisions.

Separately, the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Omar Ayub Khan, spoke to the media after his appearance in an anti-terrorism court in Islamabad. He criticised the process of the 26th constitutional amendment, stating that it was fundamentally flawed and the special committee’s role was not to amend the Constitution. 

Omar Ayub also reiterated the demand for re-elections, calling it legitimate, and criticised the government for failing to address key issues like unemployment and inflation. He also expressed hope that the newly appointed Chief Justice Yahya Afridi would fulfil his duties with diligence.

Reporter: Tayyab Saif