In a significant development, Justice Yahya Afridi has been nominated as the next Chief Justice of Pakistan. This decision follows the introduction of the 26th Constitutional Amendment, which has redefined the process of selecting the Chief Justice, granting a parliamentary committee the authority to make the final decision.
The newly formed committee was tasked with choosing from the three most senior judges of the Supreme Court—Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, and Justice Muneeb Akhtar. After extensive deliberations, the committee reached a consensus, nominating Justice Afridi for the prestigious position.
This nomination marks a significant departure from the previous succession practices. Before the amendment, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah was widely expected to succeed Justice Qazi Faez Isa upon his retirement. However, the introduction of the parliamentary selection process has added a new layer of oversight and deliberation, ensuring a more comprehensive review of potential candidates.
Justice Yahya Afridi’s nomination is seen as a pivotal decision under the amended judicial selection system, which aims to balance seniority with parliamentary input.
Justice Afridi will assume his new role upon the retirement of Justice Isa, taking on the responsibility of guiding the Supreme Court and influencing key judicial decisions.
