Following Justice Mashir Alam, Justice (Retired) Maqbool Baqar has also declined to serve as an ad-hoc judge in the Supreme Court.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has opposed the appointment of four ad-hoc judges in the Supreme Court.
It is noteworthy that a meeting of the Judicial Commission to consider the appointment of ad-hoc judges in the Supreme Court has been scheduled for July 19, where the names of four candidates for ad-hoc judges will be discussed.
Sources have revealed that retired Justices Sardar Tariq Masood and Justice (Retired) Mazhar Alam Miankhel have agreed to serve as ad-hoc judges in the Supreme Court. However, Justice (Retired) Mashir Alam, in his letter to the Judicial Commission of Pakistan, declined to serve as an ad-hoc judge, stating, “Allah has granted me more honor than I deserve. The campaign initiated on social media after the nomination of ad-hoc judges has caused severe disappointment. Under the current circumstances, I wish to decline serving as an ad-hoc judge.”
Justice (Retired) Maqbool Baqar had not previously submitted a response regarding the ad-hoc judge appointment, but reports now indicate that Justice (Retired) Maqbool Baqar has also declined to serve as an ad-hoc judge.
Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar stated that there is no precedent for the simultaneous appointment of four ad-hoc judges in the Supreme Court.
He mentioned that no ad-hoc judge has been appointed in the Supreme Court since 2015, and this move will not reduce the burden of cases. There are concerns that the purpose of this action might be related to PTI’s specific seats, and the Chief Justice should avoid judicial disputes at such a sensitive time.
