Congratulations to Justice Qazi Faez Isa on being sworn in as the 29th Chief Justice of Pakistan. His first act as the CJP was to form a full court to hear challenges to the law clipping the top judge’s powers.
In a dignified ceremony held at the President’s House in Islamabad, Justice Qazi Faez Isa took the oath of office as the 29th Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) on Sunday. President Dr. Arif Alvi administered the oath, with the presence of Interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir.
Standing by his side was his wife, Sarina Isa, as the official notification of his appointment was read aloud. Justice Isa’s tenure as the CJP is set to last for 13 months, concluding on October 25, 2024. Noteworthy is the fact that Justice Isa is only the second Chief Justice to hail from Balochistan. He is following in the footsteps of Iftikhar Chaudhry.
Justice Isa has gained widespread recognition for presiding over pivotal cases such as the Memogate Commission, the Quetta Tragedy Inquiry Commission, and the Faizabad Dharna Decision.
Life And Career
Born on October 26, 1959, in Quetta, Justice Isa’s father, Qazi Muhammad Isa, was a prominent figure in the movement to establish Pakistan and a close associate of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. He received his early education in Quetta and completed his A and O levels at Karachi Grammar School. His pursuit of legal studies took him to London, where he completed the bar professional examination.
He embarked on his legal career as an advocate in the Balochistan High Court in 1985. Justice Isa became an advocate of the Supreme Court in 1998. With over 27 years of practice in both the Balochistan High Court and the Supreme Court. He ascended to the position of Chief Justice of the Balochistan High Court in 2009.
Serving in this capacity from 2009 to 2014, he was subsequently elevated to the Supreme Court in 2014. Notably, during the state of emergency declared in the country on November 3, 2007. Justice Isa displayed principled courage by refusing to appear before judges he believed had violated their oath.
In a show of solidarity, the judges of the Balochistan High Court resigned. This led to Justice Isa’s appointment and eventual assumption of the role of Chief Justice of the High Court on August 5, 2009. He was sworn in as a Supreme Court justice on September 5, 2014.
Justice Isa recently garnered attention for his protest against the non-implementation of the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Act, a legislation enacted during the Shahbaz Sharif era. In protest, he refrained from presiding over cases for the past five months, choosing instead to work from his chambers.
First Female Officer Becomes SC Registrar
For the very first time, the CJP has chosen a woman to be the Registrar of the Supreme Court. Judge Jazeela Aslam, previously worked at the district and sessions court in Okara. She has been selected for this important role. Her appointment, which will last for three years, was officially announced. However, a letter regarding this decision was sent to the Lahore High Court.
