Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa will retire today (Friday) after more than a year in office. His tenure has been marked by significant judicial rulings and debates surrounding judicial independence in Pakistan. The oath-taking ceremony for the new CJP, Justice Yahya Afridi, is scheduled for tomorrow, with President Asif Ali Zardari set to administer the oath.
On Thursday evening, a farewell dinner was held by the Supreme Court Bar Association and the Pakistan Bar Council in honor of the outgoing CJP. The event was attended by the newly appointed Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, Supreme Court judges, and Chief Justices from all high courts.
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Earlier this week, President Asif Ali Zardari formally approved Justice Yahya Afridi’s appointment as chief justice, following Qazi Faez Isa’s retirement on October 25. This decision was recommended by a special parliamentary committee formed amid significant political discussions and controversies over the judiciary’s role in governance.
The appointment of Justice Afridi comes after the contentious passage of the 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill, which introduces a new procedure for selecting the Chief Justice.
For the first time, the nomination of Justice Afridi was made by a Special Parliamentary Committee comprising representatives from all political parties, achieving a two-thirds majority in their decision. This change aims to enhance transparency and political consensus in judicial appointments, which have been a source of contention in Pakistan’s political landscape.
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The committee’s recommendation was then sent to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who approved it before it was forwarded to the president. According to the new provisions, the Chief Justice must be selected from the three most senior judges of the Supreme Court based on the committee’s recommendation, marking a significant shift in how judicial leadership is determined in the country.