The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) recently approved a second extension for the Constitutional Bench under Justice Aminuddin Khan, now slated to continue until November 30. They speak to the heart of an institutional crisis in which executive influence appears to be tightening its grip over judicial affairs. Without transparency or consensus, the legitimacy of the Constitutional Bench and the decisions it renders become increasingly suspect. Justice Shah’s suggestion that all Supreme Court justices be part of the Constitutional Bench deserves serious consideration. Unfortunately, there are signs that some stakeholders may prefer to preserve divisions within the Supreme Court to check its power and reduce its ability to challenge the executive.
