On Wednesday, President Asif Ali Zardari designated Justice Yahya Afridi as the 30th Chief Justice of Pakistan after the retirement of Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa. This significant appointment comes after a parliamentary committee nominated Justice Afridi under the 26th Constitutional Amendment, highlighting the procedural adherence to recent legislative changes in the judicial appointment process.
The president’s approval of Justice Afridi’s appointment was based on a summary submitted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, which incorporated recommendations from the special parliamentary committee. Justice Afridi is set to take his oath of office on October 26, marking the beginning of a three-year term in accordance with Articles 175A(3), 177, and 179 of the Constitution. This appointment underscores the ongoing evolution of the judiciary in Pakistan, particularly in light of recent constitutional amendments aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability in judicial appointments.
The Special Parliamentary Committee, formed after the 26th Amendment, convened with nine of its twelve members present to evaluate three candidates for the Chief Justice position. Prominent members included Senators from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), along with representatives from other political factions. Notably, members from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf abstained from the discussions, reflecting the ongoing political dynamics in the country.
Justice Yahya Afridi’s legal journey began in 1990 as an advocate in the high court, and he became an advocate of the Supreme Court in 2004. His career features important positions, including serving as the Assistant Advocate General for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and acting as Federal Counsel for the Government of Pakistan. He was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Peshawar High Court in 2010, where he was later confirmed as a permanent judge in 2012. Notably, he made history on December 30, 2016, by becoming the first judge from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) to assume the role of Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court, a position he held until his elevation to the Supreme Court on June 28, 2018.
With his extensive experience and notable achievements, Justice Afridi’s appointment is expected to influence the trajectory of Pakistan’s judiciary as it navigates contemporary legal challenges and reforms.
