Following President Asif Ali Zardari’s assent, the Ministry of Law and Justice announced on Monday the appointments of three high court justices to the Supreme Court.
Chief Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan of the Lahore High Court (LHC), Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan of the Sindh High Court (SHC), and Chief Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi of the LHC are among the justices who have been promoted to the top court.
In accordance with Article 177, the president authorized the new appointments.
According to a law ministry notice, President Zardari nominated Justice Shujaat Ali Khan as acting LHC CJ under Article 196 following Chief Justice Shahzad of the Lahore High Court’s promotion.
Until the highest position is filled, Justice Shujaat will serve as the acting LHC CJ.
In addition to recommending the promotion of the LHC judge to the top court earlier this month, the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) had also suggested the elevation of chief justices of the SHC and LHC to the highest court.
Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Qazi Faez Isa, who is also the chairman of the panel, made the decision during a meeting of the JCP, which is the constitutional forum for the appointment of judges to higher courts.
