ISLAMABAD: The Judicial Commission of Pakistan on Saturday deferred the issue of confirmation / appointment of additional judges of the Lahore High Court and the High Court of Balochistan till April 23.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry presided over the meeting of the Commission, which apparently deferred the consideration of the issue till composition of the Commission was completed as newly nominated Minister for Law and Justice Maula Baksh Chandio had to take oath of the office.

The Judicial Commission, the highest forum in the country has been functional to make appointments to superior judiciary under the 18th Amendment.

Maula Baksh Chandio has been nominated as the Law minister after the resignation of Dr Babar Awan.

Chandio told newsmen at the Supreme Court building that he could not attend the meeting because he had not taken the oath.

Other members of the Commission are Justice Javed Iqbal, Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan, Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani and Justice Nasir ul Mulk ,senior judges of the apex Court, Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq, Pakistan Bar Council member Dr Khalid Ranjha and Justice (retd) Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry besides high court chief justices, including Chief Justice Ejaz Ahmed Chaudhry of the Lahore High Court (LHC), Chief Justice Sindh High Court Mushir Alam, Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan and Balochistan High Court Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa.

Chief Justice on Army

Chief Justice said on Saturday that army’s role was to protect the borders while the role of the judiciary was to uphold the constitution.

The Chief Justice was speaking to students at the Staff College in Quetta.

According to the Chief Justice the role of the army was clearly stated in the 1973 constitution and it was not their role to be involved in politics.