Islamabad's judicial appointment process has entered uncharted territory. For the first time since the 27th Constitutional Amendment, a seven-member committee grilled seven candidates for three Islamabad High Court (IHC) vacancies, signaling a move toward more rigorous vetting of the country's top legal minds. Main Developments Monday's interviews, conducted under a newly approved mechanism, required the panel to assess each candidate before submitting recommendations to the full Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP). The process marks the first implementation of rules finalized last month after lengthy debates over transparency in judicial elevations. The interview committee was led by Federal Constitutional Court Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi. It included Lahore High Court Chief Justice Aalia Neelum, IHC Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar, Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan, Senator Farooq H. Naek, Senator Syed Ali Zafar, and Pakistan Bar Council representative Ahsan Bhoon. Read also: Why Balochistan's CM says he'd sacrifice his life for the province Among those who appeared were District and Sessions Judge Shahrukh Arjumand, advocates Umair Majeed Malik, Ayyaz Shaukat, Wajid Mughal, Syed Intikhab Hussain Shah, and IHC Bar Association President Syed Wajid Ali Gillani. Sources told Dawn that the committee probed candidates on their expertise in civil, criminal, and tax law, as well as their views on courtroom decorum, handling difficult proceedings, and managing judicial conduct under unexpected circumstances. Background The introduction of interviews has stirred debate within the legal fraternity, especially among Islamabad lawyers who argued that constitutional court candidates should not face questioning from a committee outside the full JCP. Despite such objections, the JCP approved interview rules as part of broader reforms to standardize assessment and evaluation for judicial appointments. The seven-member panel was formed after the commission opted for a broader committee rather than a proposed five-member body. Under the approved framework, the panel includes a judge from the Federal Constitutional Court or Supreme Court, the senior-most high court chief justice, the chief justice of the relevant high court, the attorney general, two parliamentary JCP members, and a Pakistan Bar Council representative. Why It Matters This shift introduces unprecedented accountability for judicial candidates, potentially reshaping how merit and temperament are weighed in Pakistan's superior judiciary. The committee reportedly asked more questions to nominees proposed by IHC Chief Justice Dogar—Judge Arjumand and advocates Malik and Shaukat—than to others, highlighting the scrutiny faced by those with strong institutional backing. The process also tests the balance between judicial independence and transparency. If successful, it could set a precedent for future appointments across high courts, quieting criticisms that elevations have lacked consistency. What's Next The interview committee will now submit its report to the Judicial Commission of Pakistan. The JCP is scheduled to meet on July 20 to consider the recommendations and finalize nominations for the three vacant IHC judges' positions. The outcome will show whether the new mechanism withstands legal challenges and gains acceptance from the bar and bench alike.