Pakistan President Appoints Permanent Chief Justices of Four High Courts

In Nepal, Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut administered the oath of office to three newly appointed Supreme Court justices, Meghraj Pokharel, Shrikant Poudel, and Shantisingh Thapa, as well as to Mahesh Kumar Nepal, a new member of the Judicial Council. In Pakistan, President Asif Ali Zardari approved and the Ministry of Law and Justice issued notifications for the permanent appointments of chief justices to all four high courts: Justice Sarfraz Dogar for Islamabad High Court, Justice Rozi Khan Barech for Balochistan High Court, Justice Syed Muhammad Attique Shah for Peshawar High Court, and Justice Junaid Ghaffar for Sindh High Court. These appointments followed nominations by the Judicial Commission of Pakistan and were made official following the completion of legal formalities, including oath ceremonies. The appointment of Justice Sarfraz Dogar as Islamabad High Court chief justice has been contentious, with several judges filing petitions challenging his appointment and judicial transfers, though the Supreme Court dismissed the petitions and he continues as acting chief justice pending review petitions. This sequence of events highlights ongoing judicial appointments and related legal challenges in Pakistan alongside judicial developments in Nepal.