Justice Yahya Afridi has been nominated by a Special Parliamentary Committee (SPC) to take the oath as the next Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) on Saturday, October 26. This change comes as the current CJP, Qazi Faez Isa, is set to retire on October 25.
The recent 26th Amendment has established a new selection process for the CJP, requiring that the position be filled based on recommendations from the SPC, which is composed of the three most senior judges of the Supreme Court (SC). In the past, the role was typically filled by the most senior judge, which had positioned Mansoor Ali Shah as a likely candidate.
Justice Afridi, who is currently third in the SC seniority ranking, follows Justice Munib Akhtar, who is second among those considered by the SPC. His appointment was confirmed by President Asif Ali Zardari under Article 175A of the Constitution, as noted in a notification from the Ministry of Law and Justice. The president has stated that Justice Afridi’s term as CJP will begin on October 26 and will last for three years.
Additionally, PTV News has reported that President Zardari has arranged for the oath-taking ceremony for Justice Afridi to take place on the same day. Notably, the 26th Amendment includes contingency plans in the event that the nominated judge declines the position. If the first nominee refuses, one of the other two candidates will be approached. Should both decline, the next senior judge may be considered.
Justice Afridi, born on January 23, 1965, will become the 30th Chief Justice of Pakistan. He previously held the title of the youngest chief justice of the Peshawar High Court in December 2016 before being elevated to the Supreme Court in June 2018. His upcoming role as CJP represents a significant milestone in his esteemed judicial career.
Pakistan’s 30th Chief Justice of Pakistan
