Justice Yahya Afridi is set to take the oath as Pakistan’s 30th Chief Justice on October 26, following the retirement of Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa. Afridi’s nomination was confirmed last night by a Special Parliamentary Committee (SPC), as required by the recently passed 26th Amendment. This marks a shift from the previous process where the senior-most judge would automatically assume the role of chief justice.
According to a notification from the Ministry of Law and Justice, President Asif Ali Zardari appointed Afridi as the next chief justice under clause 3 of Article 175A, in accordance with Articles 177 and 179 of the Constitution. His tenure will span three years, starting October 26. PTV News also confirmed on X that President Zardari will administer the oath to Afridi on that date.
Justice Afridi, born on January 23, 1965, previously served as the youngest chief justice of the Peshawar High Court in 2016, and was later elevated to the Supreme Court in 2018. His appointment, seen by many as a transparent and democratic process, was welcomed by several quarters, including the Sindh Bar Council (SBC), which praised Afridi for his wisdom, character, and legal acumen.
The SPC, formed by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, held its decision-making session in-camera on Tuesday night. Despite the absence of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), eight out of the nine present members voted in Afridi’s favor. Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, the previously presumed next CJP, received one vote from JUI-F Senator Kamran Murtaza.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar highlighted that Afridi’s nomination adhered to the principles of transparency and seniority under the new constitutional amendment, marking a “major advantage for the judiciary and the nation.”
Justice Afridi’s appointment is anticipated to bring a fresh perspective to Pakistan’s judiciary amidst ongoing constitutional developments.