A constitutional deadlock has left four additional judges of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) without official status, as the president's assent to their service confirmation remains pending—a delay that legal experts say could worsen the court's already heavy case backlog. The judges, including the court's only female judge, have stopped receiving case assignments since August 3, effectively halting their judicial work. Main Developments The four judges—Justice Farah Jamshed, Justice Inamullah Khan, Justice Sabitullah Khan, and Justice Aurangzeb—completed their extended six-month terms on August 4. Their initial one-year appointments began with oaths taken on February 4, 2025, and were renewed early this year following Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) recommendations. On July 20, the JCP formally recommended their confirmation as regular judges under Article 175(A) of the Constitution. However, the Constitution sets no deadline for presidential assent, leaving the process in limbo. Official sources confirm the PHC has been in contact with the law ministry, but no case assignments have been made to these judges since August 3. Read also: KP Teachers to Challenge School Outsourcing in Court A government official stressed that judicial work cannot be allocated until the federal government issues the necessary notification. PHC Bar Association President Ameenur Rehman Yousafzai has publicly urged the president to act, arguing that based on constitutional provisions and superior court judgments, the president is bound to give assent and cannot withhold the summary. Background The four judges were part of a group of ten additional judges appointed together. Six of their colleagues have already been confirmed as regular PHC judges in February this year, making the current delay an exception rather than the norm. Justice Jamshed and Justice Inamullah bring decades of judicial experience, having joined the judicial service in 1994 as civil judges. Both were promoted to additional district and sessions judges in 2007 and later to district and sessions judges in 2011. Justice Jamshed also made history as the first woman director general of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Judicial Academy, while Justice Inamullah served as additional registrar of the PHC's Dera Ismail Khan Bench. The other two judges, Justice Sabitullah and Justice Aurangzeb, transitioned from prominent legal practices, earning respect within the legal fraternity before their elevation. Why It Matters The PHC is already operating with a shortage of judges, and Yousafzai warns that continued delay will disrupt the court's day-to-day functioning and increase the backlog of pending cases. The absence of four judges—especially Justice Jamshed, the only woman on the bench—reduces the court's capacity to hear cases efficiently. Constitutional experts point to Article 175(A)(8), which outlines the process for judicial appointments but notably omits a timeline for presidential action. This gap creates room for delays that can undermine the JCP's constitutional role and leave judges in professional uncertainty. What's Next The PHC bar association has called on the president to grant assent promptly, which would allow the federal government to issue the confirmation notification and end the impasse. Once confirmed, the judges will have defined retirement dates—Justice Jamshed in January 2032, Justice Inamullah in September 2029, Justice Sabitullah in December 2033, and Justice Aurangzeb in December 2039. Until the president acts, the four judges remain in a state of suspension, unable to perform judicial duties, while the PHC continues its efforts through official channels to resolve the situation. The duration of this delay remains uncertain, as no constitutional mechanism exists to compel a decision.