The Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms (PCCR) on Friday unanimously approved the recommendations for appointment of judges and constituted a six- member sub-committee to finalise the draft of the 19th amendment bill. The committee met with Senator Mian Raza Rabbani in the chair at Parliament House.
Senators, Professor Khurshid Ahmed, Waseem Sajjad, Ishaq Dar, Afrasiab Khattak, MNAs Naveed Qamar, Aftab Ahmed Sherpao, Dr Babar Awan and others participated in the meeting. Reliable sources told Business Recorder that the committee discussed all the matters one by one raised by the Apex Court for the appointment of judges. They said that the committee would send ratified names of the judges to the president through the prime minister for final approval.
According to Article 175-A of the Constitution, the Parliamentary Committee for appointment of judges would comprise of eight members, each four from the National Assembly and Senate. Of the four members, two would be from Opposition benches.
Sources said that in case the National Assembly is dissolved, the Senate members would finalise names of the judges. Three out of four members of the Senate will be able to accept or reject the name of a judge for a post. They said that 6-member sub committee comprising Raza Rabbani, Ishaq Dar, Professor Khurshid Ahmed, Waseem Sajjad, Aftab Ahmed Sherpao and Naveed Qamar would prepare draft for 19th amendment bill and finalise it. The first meeting of the sub-committee would be held on December 7, 2010 at Parliament House. Sources further said that 19th amendment bill is likely to be presented in forthcoming session of the National Assembly scheduled on December 20, 2010.