ISLAMABAD (MNN); The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) on Monday recommended that three ad hoc judges of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) and one additional judge of the Balochistan High Court (BHC) be confirmed as permanent judges.
The decision was taken during a meeting of the JCP, chaired by Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi. The commission is the constitutional body responsible for appointments to the superior judiciary.
According to a press release issued by the Supreme Court after the meeting, the commission, by majority, approved the confirmation of Additional Judges Muhammad Azam Khan, Muhammad Asif and Inaam Ameen Minhas as judges of the Islamabad High Court, after reviewing relevant records, antecedents and evaluation material.
The commission also unanimously recommended the confirmation of Justice Najamuddin Mengal, an additional judge of the Balochistan High Court, as a permanent judge. However, the JCP did not approve, by majority, the confirmation of Additional Judge Ayub Khan of the BHC.
The judges recommended by the commission will attain permanent status after receiving assent from the president.
Among the IHC judges, Justices Azam Khan and Inaam Ameen Minhas were initially appointed as additional judges of the Islamabad High Court, while Justice Muhammad Asif was first appointed to the Balochistan High Court and later transferred to Islamabad through a presidential order. The same order also transferred Justice Mohammad Sarfaraz Dogar to the IHC, where he was elevated as chief justice.
These transfers and subsequent developments had led to unprecedented internal differences within the IHC, with several judges appearing as litigants before the Supreme Court and others participating as petitioners in proceedings related to Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri’s academic credentials.
Official data shows that in 2025, the Islamabad High Court decided more than 16,000 cases. Justice Inaam Ameen Minhas recorded the highest number of disposals, deciding 2,039 cases in single benches and over 500 cases in division benches. Justice Muhammad Azam Khan disposed of 1,841 cases in single benches and around 600 in division benches, while Justice Muhammad Asif decided 1,338 cases.
It is noteworthy that Justice Asif is also facing a complaint before the Supreme Judicial Council, alleging misuse of authority in connection with a hit-and-run case involving his son. According to the complaint, submitted on December 25, the incident occurred on December 2 last year near the Pakistan National Council of Arts, where a speeding SUV allegedly driven by his son hit a scooter, killing two girls. The accused was later granted bail after the victims’ families pardoned him.
Sources said that during deliberations, IHC Chief Justice Dogar and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani acknowledged that Justice Asif did not use his official position to influence the victims’ families immediately after the incident and had personally visited them to apologise. However, during voting, Justice Kayani and Supreme Court judge Munib Akhtar opposed his confirmation.
Deliberations on institutional and policy matters
The Supreme Court press release also said the commission discussed key institutional and policy issues. These included criteria for nomination of judges to constitutional benches of high courts, procedures for interviews of judicial candidates, and proposed amendments to the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (Appointment of Judges) Rules, 2024, particularly in relation to appointments to the Federal Constitutional Court.
Following the discussions, the commission authorised a committee to examine these matters in detail and submit recommendations to ensure effective and transparent implementation of the constitutional framework.
