ISLAMABAD: In a major reshuffle in the country’s top judicial offices, President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday formally appointed chief justices for all four high courts. The appointments were made based on recommendations from the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP), which held a series of meetings last week to finalise the nominations.
Justice Sarfraz Dogar has been appointed Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court, a position he was holding in an acting capacity since Chief Justice Aamer Farooq’s elevation to the Supreme Court. Justice Rozi Khan Barrech will now lead the Balochistan High Court, bringing decades of legal experience from the provincial judiciary. Justice Syed Muhammad Attique Shah has been named Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court, and Justice Junaid Ghaffar has been appointed to the Sindh High Court, where he has previously served as a senior puisne judge.
The JCP held four back-to-back meetings chaired by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa to assess the qualifications and performance of the acting chief justices. In each session, a majority of commission members voted in favour of confirming the acting judges as permanent chief justices, citing their proven administrative capabilities and judicial track record.
The Ministry of Law and Justice issued four official notifications confirming the appointments under Article 193(1) of the Constitution. This clause authorizes the president to appoint high court judges based on JCP recommendations. The notifications state the appointments will come into effect from the day each judge is sworn into office.
Sources in the Presidency confirmed that Justice Sarfraz Dogar will be administered the oath by President Zardari in a ceremony at the Aiwan-e-Sadr. The other three judges will take their oaths from their respective provincial governors — in Quetta, Peshawar, and Karachi — with all ceremonies expected to be held later this week. The appointments are seen as a move to ensure judicial continuity and strengthen leadership in the superior judiciary.