The commission's first hearing was conducted today in courtroom number 7 of the Supreme Court (SC), presided over by Justice Qazi Faez Isa and including Chief Justices Aamer Farooq of the Islamabad High Court and Naeem Akhtar Afghan of the Balochistan High Court.
Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan also appeared before the three-member commission.
The judicial commission was formulated by the federal government on Saturday, and it was given a 30-day deadline to do its work.
According to a notification from the cabinet division, the commission was established as a result of widely disseminated contentious audio recordings involving members of the judiciary, including the former chief justice and Supreme Court judges, that raised "serious concerns about the independence, impartiality, and uprightness of the Chief Justices and Judges of the Superior Courts in the administration of justice."
In accordance with Section 3 of the Pakistan Commissions of Inquiry Act of 2017, the government established the commission, saying that the audio leaks caused serious concerns about the independence of the judiciary.
Justice Isa questioned at the beginning of today's proceedings, "Under which law was the commission formed?"
The Commission of Inquiry Act, of 2016, was cited in response by Attorney General Awan as the legal basis for the commission's formation.
The judicial commission then declared that the proceedings would be made public. However, it also stated that if any sensitive information came to light, the commission could evaluate any request for an in-camera session.
Justice Isa gave the directive, "The proceedings of the commission will be held in the Supreme Court Islamabad building," and added, "It is our responsibility to appoint the secretary of the commission."
"The commission can also go to Lahore if there is a request," he said.
Justice Isa announced that the commission's proceedings will start at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 27.