ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has decided to reach out to parliamentary leaders to initiate the formation of a committee for appointing the next Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), sources said.

The committee will consist of 12 members, including 8 from the National Assembly and 4 from the Senate, with the Senate members being nominated by the Chairman of the Senate.

Sources further revealed that the parliamentary committee will request a list of three senior judges from the Ministry of Law and select the next CJP from this panel within three days.

This move follows President Asif Ali Zardari’s approval of the 26th constitutional amendment bill, based on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s advice. After the President’s signature, the gazette notification was issued, officially making the amendment part of the 1973 Constitution.

Both the National Assembly and the Senate had earlier passed the bill with a two-thirds majority, setting the term for the Chief Justice of Pakistan at three years. The 12-member parliamentary committee will choose the new Chief Justice from a panel of the three most senior judges.

Additionally, under the 26th constitutional amendment, the Judicial Commission of Pakistan, led by the Chief Justice and including three senior judges, along with members from the National Assembly, Senate, Law Minister, Attorney General, and a Pakistan Bar Council nominee with at least 15 years of Supreme Court practice, will be responsible for appointing Supreme Court judges.