AGP Ashtar Ausaf breaks his silence on Supreme Judicial Commission’s proceedings

Islamabad: Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf dealt a final blow to Supreme Court Chief Justice Umar Atta Bandial in a late night statement on Sunday.

His statement came a day after the chief justice had released a brief audio recording of the Judicial Commission’s meeting for elevation of high court judges to the apex court.

The top judge’s nominees were rejected by majority of 5 to 4 but he reportedly left the proceeding, without announcing his decision.

In his statement, the Attorney General said he supported the elevation of Justice Athar Minhallah, the Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court.

He said, “I observed, and continue to maintain, that Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court is eminently qualified to be considered for elevation to Apex Court, and that such elevations, in any event, must be made against existing vacancies, no more and no less.”

“While appreciating the hard work put in by Justice Mr. Sardar Tariq Masood and endorsing his stance,I categorically stated that I agree with him, he said.

He added, “In the interest of propriety, I refrained from commenting on the merits of each nominee,” said Ashtar Ausaf.

Present composition of Supreme Judicial Commission (SJC):
CJP Umar Ata Bandial is Chairman SJC. Other four members are Justice Qazi Faez Isa,Justice Sardar Tariq Masood,Sindh High Court Chief Justice Ahmed Ali Sheikh and Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Athar Minalla.