The Judicial Commission of Pakistan has formally recommended confirming Additional Judge Justice Tariq Mahmood Bajwa as a permanent judge of the Lahore High Court. The decision came during a meeting chaired by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi in Islamabad on Tuesday. Main Developments Alongside Justice Bajwa's confirmation, the commission approved ten nominees for appointment as additional judges of the LHC. The list includes advocates Amir Ajam Malik, Asad Ali Bajwa, Barrister Muhammad Usman Ghani Rashid Cheema, Ghulam Sarwar Nihang, Khalid Ibn-i-Aziz, Muhammad Ajmal Khan Zahid, Muhammad Amjad Pervaiz, Munawar Iqbal Duggal, Shiren Imran, and Syed Farhad Ali. For the Balochistan High Court, the commission recommended two candidates from a pool of five: district and sessions judges Allah Dad Roshan and Abdul Qayyum Lehri, along with Advocate Muhammad Rauf Atta. The meeting also addressed proposed amendments to the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (Appointment of Judges) Rules, 2024. Read also: HIV Crisis Deepens at Karachi Hospital as 16 More Children Infected Background Both Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Senator Barrister Syed Ali Zafar, representing the PTI in the judicial commission, did not attend the meeting. The commission decided to circulate the proposed rule amendments among remaining members, including representatives from the Federal Shariat Court and high courts, for further consideration. Why It Matters The appointments address longstanding vacancies in two of Pakistan's major high courts, potentially easing case backlogs and strengthening judicial capacity. The absence of PTI representatives signals ongoing political friction within the appointment process. What's Next The commission's recommendations now move to the next stage of the appointment process. The circulated rule amendments require approval from the full membership before taking effect.