Two former judges of the top court, including Justice (retired) Mushir Alam and Justice (retired) Maqbool Baqar, have turned down the request to become ad hoc judges in the Supreme Court.
On the other hand, reports have surfaced which suggest Justice (retired) Mazhar Alam Miankhel and Justice (retired) Sardar Tariq Masood have expressed their willingness to join as ad hoc judges.
The matter came to light on Tuesday after Justice (retired) Alam wrote to Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa. CJP Isa also heads the Supreme Judicial Council, which has appointed the four as ad hoc judges.
In his letter, a copy of which is available with The Friday Times, Justice (retired) Alam expressed his gratitude for being considered for the position. "It is an honour to be recognised for my legal expertise and contributions to society as a humble member of the bench," he stated in his letter.
"After careful deliberation, under present circumstances, it is with a heavy heart that I regret to inform you that I am unable to accept this esteemed appointment."
He further wrote: "Please know that I hold all the members of the Judicial Commission and the Supreme Court in the highest regard and am humbled by the trust placed in me by the Commission and specially by your honour as a chairman of the Judicial Commission. I am confident that the Supreme Court will continue to uphold the highest standards of justice and integrity."
However, Justice (retired) Alam explained that after he was illegally laid off from the Sindh High Court (SHC) in 2007, he set up Vision Trust and established an eye hospital in Karachi to treat the visually impaired.
While he was reinstated to the SHC in 2008 and went on to serve as its Chief Justice before being elevated to the Supreme Court, Justice Alam said he had long decided to continue his philanthropic work.
After retiring, he said that he registered this trust as the Vision Health Care Foundation, which aims to set up a Comprehensive Disability Management Centre. For this purpose, he said he had acquired 15 acres of land in Pindi Gheb.
"I enjoyed a long cherished judicial career and served on the bench for more than 22 years to the best of my abilities," he said, suggesting that he had no desire to return to that career.