​Pakistan's Sindh High Court adds 12 new judges in mass appointment

Pakistan's top judicial body approved 12 new judges for the Sindh High Court on Thursday, marking one of the largest single-day judicial appointments in the province's history. The appointments come amid a broader push to clear case backlogs in Pakistan's second most populous province.

The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP), headed by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, approved the appointments during a meeting at the Supreme Court in Islamabad. The commission also extended the term of the Sindh High Court's Constitutional Bench by six months.

Among the appointees are two district court judges and ten senior lawyers, including the Advocate General of Sindh province, Muhammad Hasan Akber. The appointments include one woman, Tasneem Sultana, who currently serves as a District and Sessions Judge.

The unusually large number of appointments reflects recent reforms in Pakistan's judicial system. The move could help address the Sindh High Court's mounting caseload, which has faced criticism for delays in justice delivery.

This marks the third round of judicial appointments since Pakistan's parliament passed the 26th Constitutional Amendment in October 2024. Earlier this month, the commission appointed five judges to the high courts of Islamabad and Balochistan.

New selection process

The amendment significantly altered the judge appointment process by restructuring the JCP to include parliamentary representatives. Under the new system, the commission includes members from both ruling and opposition parties, alongside senior judges and legal experts. Previously, the commission was dominated by senior judiciary members with minimal legislative oversight.

The changes were part of broader judicial reforms that also modified the selection process for Pakistan's chief justice and established specialized constitutional benches in high courts. Supporters argue the reforms enhance democratic oversight of the judiciary, while critics warn they might compromise judicial independence.

The newly appointed judges will serve one-year terms as additional judges before being considered for permanent positions.