The Judicial Commission of Pakistan has decided to extend the term of the SHC constitutional benches for one year following a formal meeting held in Islamabad. The meeting was chaired by Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi to address the expiration of the benches' current tenure, which was set to end on October 25. Following thorough deliberations, the commission approved the continuation of the benches for an additional one-year period.
The meeting deliberated on the term of the SHC constitutional bench, then approved the one-year extension.
Meeting deliberations and membership changes
Before deliberating on the tenure extension, Chief Justice Yahya Afridi welcomed new members to the Judicial Commission of Pakistan. The incoming members include Rana Sanaullah, the Prime Minister’s Advisor on Political Affairs, and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party. Both members took their seats in the commission following the resignations of former members Farooq H. Naek and Sheikh Aftab Ahmed.
The commission then decided to extend the term of the SHC constitutional benches by one year.
Legislative background and provincial setup
The constitutional benches of the Sindh High Court were created following the adoption of the 26th Constitutional Amendment. Their operational mechanisms were subsequently enacted under the High Court of Sindh Constitutional Benches (Practice and Procedure) Act, 2025, on January 10, 2026. Initially, nine judges were approved to serve on these constitutional benches by the Judicial Commission of Pakistan, headed by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi.
Regular division benches and single benches operate at the principal seat in Karachi and at circuit benches and courts in Sukkur, Hyderabad, Larkana and Mirpurkhas, under updated weekly and monthly rosters.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Judicial Commission ne Chief Justice Yahya Afridi ki sarbarahi mein SHC constitutional benches ki muddat aik saal ke liye barha di hai. Benches ki pehle se muqarrar muddat 25 October ko khatam hone wali thi. Is faislay ke tehat Karachi ke alawa Sukkur, Hyderabad, Larkana aur Mirpurkhas mein aaeeni benches ka kaam jari rahe ga.
