Sameer and Rauf emerge as sole contenders for Supreme Court seat

Former High Court judge Ali Sameer and High Court judge Abdul Rauf Ibrahim have applied for the vacancy on the Supreme Court that will arise following the retirement of Supreme Court Justice Ali Rasheed next month.

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) opened applications for the post on November 4 and closed applications at 10:00 am on Sunday.

Sun has learned that Sameer and Rauf are the only candidates who applied for the vacancy.

Sameer previously served as a High Court judge and most recently held the post of Deputy Prosecutor General. Meanwhile, Rauf was reappointed as a High Court judge in February after previously serving on the bench for many years.

The vacancy was announced after the JSC decided to retire Justice Ali Rasheed from the Supreme Court next month. The seven-member Supreme Court bench has undergone a number of changes in recent years following retirements, dismissals, resignations and new appointments.

This will mark another change to the composition of the country's highest court as the JSC proceeds with selecting a candidate for parliamentary approval and eventual appointment to the Supreme Court.