JCP likely to finalise panel to interview candidates

ISLAMABAD: The Jud­icial Commission of Pak­istan (JCP) is expected to decide in its upcoming meeting the composition of a proposed committee tasked with interviewing candidates for elevation to the high courts, sources familiar with the development told Dawn. The move, however, has raised concerns among lawyers, particularly in Islamabad, who argue that candidates for constitutional courts should not be subjected to interviews by any committee operating outside the constitutional framework. Sources said the JCP’s Rule-Making Committee met on May 6 to deliberate on the criteria and procedure for appointing judges to the superior judiciary in light of recent constitutional amendments. The 27th Constitutional Amendment introduced a provision empowering the commission to frame rules regulating its procedures, including the “procedure and criteria for assessment, interview, evaluation and fitness for appointment of judges”. The Rule-Making Committee comprises Justice Aamer Farooq of the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC), Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan, Senator Farooq H. Naek, Senator Syed Ali Zafar and Pakistan Bar Council representative in the JCP Ahsan Bhoon. According to sources, the committee discussed various proposals regarding interviews of candidates for judicial appointments. Senator Ali Zafar proposed that the entire JCP interview each candidate when his or her nomination comes before the commission. Senator Farooq Naek, however, suggested that a seven-member committee conduct interviews prior to the JCP meeting and submit recommendations to the commission. Sources said Mr Bhoon proposed a five-member committee comprising two judges from the FCC or the Supreme Court, one parliamentarian, the attorney general and a representative of the Pakistan Bar Council. According to sources, the proposed committee may include FCC Justice Syed Hassan Azhar Rizvi, Justice Aamer Farooq, Barrister Syed Ali Zafar, Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan and Mr Bho