The government has just over 30 hours to appoint the next Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP). A 12-member parliamentary committee will make the nomination with a two-thirds majority vote. Reports suggest Justice Yahya Afridi may be the likely choice due to his neutral and non-controversial stance.
The race to appoint the next Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) is in full swing. The government has just over 30 hours to make its decision. The 26th Constitutional Amendment requires the government to appoint a new top judge three days before the current CJP, Qazi Faez Isa, retires on October 25, 2024. This means the government must finalize the appointment by October 22, at 12 a.m.
This new law, signed by President Asif Ali Zardari upon Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s advice, has altered the process of selecting the Chief Justice. Unlike before, when the most senior judge automatically took the position. Moreover, the new amendment requires selecting one of the three most senior judges of the Supreme Court.
A 12-member parliamentary committee will now decide the nomination by a two-thirds majority vote. Once selected, the committee will send the name to the prime minister, who will forward it to the president for final approval. If one of the top three judges declines the position, the next senior judge will be considered.
Potential Winner
Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah currently holds the position of the most senior judge, with Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Yahya Afridi following him. Many speculate that Justice Afridi is the likely favorite for the role. A report published last week hinted that the government and its allies are likely to support his appointment. Justice Afridi is known for his non-controversial and neutral stance. He has gained respect in the judicial community, especially during a time when the Supreme Court has faced divisions among its judges.
Two other names Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Ayesha Malik were also into consideration. However, these two will taken into account if the top 3 judges refuse the position. If Justice Ayesha Malik gets selected, she will be the first woman chief justice of Pakistan.
With the clock ticking, all eyes are on the government as the nation waits for the announcement of the new Chief Justice of Pakistan.
