President Asif Ali Zardari has approved the appointment and confirmation of additional judges across Pakistan’s high courts, bringing an end to a days-long delay that had triggered legal questions and practical complications within the superior judiciary.
The Presidency confirmed on August 11 that Zardari approved additional judges for the Lahore, Sindh, Peshawar, Islamabad and Balochistan high courts. He also approved the confirmation of certain additional judges of the Lahore and Sindh high courts as permanent judges.
The appointments had been pending since July 20 and 21, when the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP), which plays the central constitutional role in appointments to the superior judiciary, made its recommendations. These included 19 additional judges for the Lahore, Islamabad, Sindh and Balochistan high courts, confirmation of four additional Peshawar High Court judges, and a six-month extension for an additional Sindh High Court judge.
Under Article 175-A of the Constitution, the recommendations were forwarded to the prime minister before the summary was sent to the president. However, the delay at the Presidency developed into a dispute over the constitutional procedure governing judicial appointments.
The Presidency’s legal team had raised objections concerning aspects of the JCP proceedings. According to Dawn, concerns included the rejection of nearly all nominees proposed by the PPP and claims regarding the records of some recommended candidates. Government officials, meanwhile, explored whether notifications could potentially be issued through the law ministry under Article 48(1).
The delay also began affecting court operations. Four additional Peshawar High Court judges ceased to hold office after their terms expired on August 4 without formal confirmation, while an additional Sindh High Court judge had relinquished office following the expiry of his tenure on July 29.
The dispute had also reached the Islamabad High Court, where a petition challenged the delay and sought directions concerning presidential approval of the summary. The IHC reserved its decision on the petition’s maintainability on Monday.
Alongside the judicial appointments, Zardari approved equalising the salaries, allowances and pensions of Supreme Court judges with those of Federal Constitutional Court judges. He also approved amendments concerning leave, pensions and privileges of high court judges.
The presidential approval resolves the immediate appointment impasse, although the episode has highlighted broader constitutional questions over timelines and institutional responsibilities in Pakistan’s judicial appointment process.
