ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa is set to retire today after a tenure of over a year. His departure will make way for Justice Yahya Afridi, who is scheduled to take the oath as the new Chief Justice of Pakistan tomorrow, October 26.
In a farewell hosted on Thursday by the Supreme Court Bar Association and Pakistan Bar Council, Justice Isa was honored in the presence of Justice Afridi, Supreme Court judges, and Chief Justices from high courts across the country.
The official oath-taking ceremony for Justice Afridi will take place at the Presidency and will be attended by senior judiciary members and officials. His appointment was formally approved by President Asif Ali Zardari following a recommendation from a special parliamentary committee earlier this week. This marks a significant moment in Pakistan’s judicial history, as Justice Afridi’s selection follows the newly established process under the 26th Constitutional Amendment.
The amendment introduced a fresh method for appointing the Chief Justice, where a Special Parliamentary Committee, with representatives from all political parties, nominates a candidate. For the first time, the committee’s nomination was confirmed with a two-thirds majority. The recommendation then went to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who approved it before forwarding it to the President.
However, the new selection process has not been without controversy. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the main opposition party led by Imran Khan, boycotted the committee meetings, arguing that the recent judicial reforms compromise the judiciary’s independence. PTI has since expressed its discontent with Justice Afridi’s appointment and vowed to repeal the legislation if they return to power. Party members plan to launch a protest campaign challenging the committee’s decision.
This upcoming transition in the Supreme Court leadership is both a historic and contentious moment for Pakistan’s judiciary as the nation witnesses the effects of these latest judicial reforms.
