PML-N to secure majority seats in parliamentary committee for CJP appointment

Members of the National Assembly on Monday devised a formula for political parties' representation in the parliamentary committee, which is to be formed for the appointment of the next Chief Justice of Pakistan under Article 175A.

The recently unveiled formula depicted that each party will gain one seat over its current representation of 39 members in the lower house and 21 members in the upper house. 

Under the seat-sharing recipe, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) will collectively receive four seats on the committee, including three for their MNAs and one for the senate member.

PPP will have three representatives on the parliamentary committee, including two from the National Assembly and one from the Senate.

Similarly, the Sunni Ittehad Council is also expected to be part of the committee. Both allies PTI and SIC are anticipated to get two seats each.

The government’s allied parties, MQM and JUI-F, are expected to secure one member each in the special committee.

MQM will gain a seat in the National Assembly, while a representative from JUI will be appointed from the Senate.

Furthermore, the government’s special quota is expected to empower the JUI to obtain an additional seat through their representation in the NA.

A dedicated parliamentary committee will be formed in accordance with sub-clauses 1 and 2 of clause 3A of Article 175A.

 This committee will be operational before the retirement of the current Chief Justice, Qazi Faez Isa, who is set to step down on October 25.

Three days before the retirement of the CJP, the committee will send the name of CJP Isa’s successor to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who will forward it to President Asif Ali Zardari for approval.

As per sources, following the elimination of the seniority rule in the Chief Justice of Pakistan's appointment, Justice Yahya Afridi could be a strong candidate for the position of CJP, because, he has "maintained a non-controversial and neutral stance during times of deep division among the apex court judges".