JCP's Most Members Wanted Justice Athar In SC.

ISLAMABAD -- Several members of JuAdicial Commission of PaAkistan (JCP) had emphaAsized in a recent meeting of the Commission on inclusion of Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah's name in the recommenAdations for elevation to the Supreme Court.

In this regard, JCP member Justice Sardar Tariq Masood said in his letter to the JCP Chairman Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial and other members of the Commission that the IHC chief justice should be considered for elevaAtion to the apex court.

He wrote, 'On my turn, I after discussAing the seniority prinAciple referred to a comAparative analysis of the nominated judges with superseded senior judges. I also recommended that honourable Justice Athar Minallah, who is 2nd in seAniority amongst the chief justices of all the High Courts, be considered.'

He also stated, 'No one has raised a finger against his inAtegrity, competency etc.'

In the letter, circulated to other members of the JCP and the press, Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Ashtar Ausaf Ali wrote that while he had refrained from commenting on the merits of each nominee, proposed for elevation by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata BanAdial 'in the interest of proApriety', he had maintained that Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Athar MinalAlah was 'eminently qualified to be considered for elevaAtion to the apex court, and that such elevations, in any event, must be made against existing vacancies, no more and no less.'

He clarified that his stance in the meeting was...