ISLAMABAD: Senior lawyer Muhammad Ahsan Bhoon replaced Akhtar Hussain as representative of the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) in the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) on Wednesday.

The JCP is to meet on Friday to consider the elevation of district and sessions judges to the Lahore High Court.

Ahsan Bhoon was elected the Pakistan Bar Council representative during its 245th meeting, which was presided over by Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan, who is the PBC chairman.

Ahsan Bhoon belongs to the Independent Group, popularly known as the Asma Group.

He has also served as the PBC vice chairman and president of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA).

Commission to meet tomorrow to consider elevation of district and sessions judges to Lahore High Court

Ahsan Bhoon will represent PBC in JCP for the next two years. He is considered close to Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar.

During the election, the AGP invited proposals for the nomination of JCP member under Article 175-A(2)(vi) of the Constitution. The AGP acts as returning officer for the council’s election.

Members Khush Dil Khan and Muhammad Yaseen Azad proposed the name of Muhammad Ahsan Bhoon, which was seconded by Hassan Raza Pasha.

Pir Muhammad suggested the name of Masood Chishti as nominee for member of JCP.

Shafqat Mehmood Chauhan proposed Tahir Faraz Abbasi for the slot and was seconded by Abid Shahid Zuberi.

Fourteen members cast their votes in favour of Muhammad Ahsan Bhoon and four in favour of Tahir Faraz Abbasi. Munir Kakar abstained from the vote. Votes were cast by a show of hands.

The AGP declared Ahsan Bhoon elected as member of the JCP for two years with effect from Feb 26, 2025, to Feb 25, 2027.

The election of Ahsan

Bhoon was held after Akhtar Hussain tendered his resignation on Monday in the wake of controversies over judicial appointments.

In his resignation letter, Akhtar Hussain stated since he was unable to continue under the present circumstances, he had decided to tender his resignation as a JCP member. The resignation letter was addres­sed to the JCP chair­man, who happens to be the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi.

Akhtar Hussain had atten­ded a number of meetings of the JCP convened to elevate 36 judges to high courts and seven judges to the Supreme Court under the 26th Amendment to the Constitution.

Published in Dawn, February 27th, 2025