Justice Yahya Afridi was administered the oath of office on Friday as the new Chief Justice of Pakistan as the 30th Chief Justice after the retirement of former Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa. President Asif Ali Zardari administered the oath at Aiwan-e-Sadr, the President’s House, and other dignitaries present included Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, military chiefs, judiciary officials, and federal ministers.
Justice Isa, who has completed his term at the Supreme Court, flew to Istanbul with his wife Friday. Turkish Airlines took off from Islamabad. According to sources, the former chief justice observed protocol procedure and availed of the international lounge at the airport. There were staff members present on his tour also.
Many big politicians and judges were present during the oath-taking ceremony, the crucial transition in Pakistan’s judiciary leadership. Present were National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Chief Ministers of Punjab Maryam Nawaz, Balochistan Sarfraz Bugti, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur. Also, Governors Faisal Karim Kundi and Saleem Haider witnessed the oath-taking ceremony. Among them were Supreme Court Justices Ayesha Malik and Athar Minallah.
Recent comments from Justice Mansoor Ali Shah have shocked many, issues during this transition. Shah criticized Justice Isa for not representing himself against the 26th Constitutional Amendment, which his supporters argue is interference with judicial functions. “The Chief Justice’s place must be above politics,” his supporters say. “The constitution has reserved legislation only for parliament.”.
Therefore, in maintaining its credibility, it remains very vital that the independence of the judiciary from political or personal interests remains intact. And while Chief Justice Afridi assumes the post, he is challenged to take the judiciary through the constitutional corridor into public trust and maintenance of the rule of law.
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