ISLAMABAD: The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JC) on Saturday recommended confirmation of three judges of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) and proposed grant of one-year extension in the services of six judges of the Sindh High Court (SHC) and four of the PHC.

Presided over by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, the JC meeting, however, dropped consideration of the name of additional judge Habibur Rehman Sheikh of the SHC.

A source privy to the development told Dawn that an objection was raised during the meeting regarding the practice of grant of extension by appointing additional judges for one year.

The practice of granting extension to superior court judges could end only if individuals known for their competence and unimpeachable character were selected for appointment as judges in the superior judiciary, one of the members of the JC said. He called for appointment of permanent judges.

The SHC judges recommended for one-year extension in their services are Justice Syed Mohammad Farooq Shah, Justice Farooq Ali Channa, Justice Azizur Rehman, Justice Aftab Ahmed Gorar, Justice Riazat Ali Sahar and Justice Salahuddin Panhwar.

The JC also recommended appointment on regular basis by confirming the names of three additional judges of the PHC, who are Justice Nisar Hussain Khan, Justice Waqar Ahmed Seth and Justice Qaisar Rashid.

The four additional judges of the PHC who have been given one-year extension in service are Justice Asadullah Khan Chamkani, Justice Irshad Qaisar, Justice Shah Jahan Akhundzada and Justice Ruhul Amin Khan.