The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) on Monday approved major appointments in the higher judiciary, nominating new Chief Justices for the Sindh and Balochistan High Courts and confirming Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb as a permanent judge of the Supreme Court.

The meeting, chaired by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Yahya Afridi, reviewed several nominations for crucial posts.

The session began with deliberations on the appointment of the new Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court. Sources say the JCP reviewed the names of three senior judges before finalising its decision.

After detailed consultations, the commission approved the nomination of Justice Zafar Ahmed Rajput as the next Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court.

Balochistan High Court leadership decided

The Commission then turned its attention to the appointment of the permanent Chief Justice of the Balochistan High Court. According to sources, three names were under consideration: Justice Kamran Khan Mulakhel, Justice Iqbal Ahmed Kansi, and Justice Shaukat Ali Derakhshani.

Following consultations, the JCP approved Justice Kamran Khan Mulakhel for the position.

During the meeting, the Commission also discussed the elevation of a permanent judge to the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Sources confirmed that the JCP approved the name of Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb, a senior judge of the Islamabad High Court who had been serving as a temporary judge in the Supreme Court.

Apart from Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, the meeting was attended by Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court Aminuddin Khan, Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Hassan Rizvi, and Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Aamir Farooq.

All three selections — the two new Chief Justices and the elevation to the Supreme Court — were finalised during this session.