Recently, there has been significant development regarding the appointment of ad-hoc judges to the Supreme Court of Pakistan, with several retired justices declining or expressing reluctance to accept the prestigious role.
Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar, a respected former judge of the Supreme Court, initially considered the appointment as an ad-hoc judge but ultimately declined, citing personal and domestic reasons. His withdrawal came shortly after another former SC judge, Justice (retd) Mushir Alam, also declined the offer, citing current circumstances and expressing disappointment with a social media campaign surrounding the appointments.
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In response to these refusals, Justice (retd) Mazhar Alam Miankhel and Justice (retd) Sardar Tariq Masood have expressed their willingness to take up the ad-hoc judge positions, demonstrating their continued dedication to judicial service.
The issue has stirred controversy, with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) criticizing the appointments as tainted with dishonesty. PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar announced plans to challenge these appointments in the Supreme Judicial Council, reflecting broader concerns within the political landscape regarding the judicial process and integrity.
The developments highlight ongoing debates and challenges surrounding judicial appointments and the scrutiny they face in Pakistan’s legal and political spheres.
