ISLAMABAD: Retired Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui has been appointed chairman of the National Industrial Relations Commission (NIRC), while the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) is set to deliberate upon the names of seven advocates for appointment as judges of the Lahore High Court (LHC).

Justice Siddiqui was removed from service by the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) following his outburst against Gen Faiz Hameed, former head of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), who he claimed was actively meddling in the affairs of the judiciary.

Earlier this year, the Supreme Court had set aside the SJC orders and his subsequent removal.

Justice Siddiqui also claimed post-retirement benefits and pension, and the government had also released his all outstanding dues.

JCP to consider seven lawyers’ names for appointment as LHC judges

The federal cabinet on Monday also approved his appointment as the chairman of the NIRC for a period of three years.

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Advocate Misbah Ullah Khan and Hammad Hassan Randhawa have also been appointed as members of the commission.

NIRC was established through amendments in the Industrial Relations Ordinance, 1969 in 1972 mainly with a mandate to deal with issues of registration of industry-wise trade unions and national-level trade unions and federations.

Later, it was entrusted with taking up cases of unfair labour practices in all establishments.

Appointments in LHC

The Judicial Commision of Pakistan (JCP) has convened a meeting to consider the nomination of seven advocates for the position of additional judges in the LHC.

According to the agenda of the JCP’s meeting, to be held on Dec 7, the names of advocate Mohammad Siddiqui Awan, Ali Masood Hayat, Hassan Nawaz Makhdoom, Amir Ajam Malik, Zia ur Rehman, Mohammad Jawad Zafar and Malik Mohammad Awais Khalid will be considered for their appointment as the additional judges of the LHC.

The JCP is already scheduled to examine nominations for judges of the Sindh and Peshawar high courts.

Published in Dawn, December 3rd, 2024