IHC reserves ruling on maintainability of plea filed over delay in presidential nod for judicial appointments

The Islamabad High Court is deliberating on a petition that questions President Asif Ali Zardari's delay in approving judicial appointments. Advocate Luqman Zafar Chaudhary filed a writ petition on Wednesday, requesting the court to compel the president to act on a summary forwarded by the prime minister.

The summary seeks the appointment of 19 additional judges and the confirmation of five judges across the Islamabad, Lahore, Sindh, Balochistan, and Peshawar high courts. Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir heard the case on Thursday. The petitioner's counsel argued that the Judicial Commission of Pakistan had made its recommendations on July 20 and 21, yet the president had not approved the summary even after 15 days had passed.

The court has now reserved its verdict on the maintainability of the plea, indicating it will further consider the legal arguments before deciding whether to proceed with the case.