With the 26th Constitutional Amendment officially in effect, the country is on the verge of appointing a new Chief Justice of Pakistan. A special 12-member parliamentary committee has formed, and the critical decision is expected to unfold soon. This committee set to meet in-camera at 4 PM today at the Parliament House to finalize the appointment.
Justice Qazi Faez Isa to Propose 3 Senior Judges
The current Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Qazi Faez Isa, is tasked with sending the names of the three most senior judges to the committee for consideration. The top candidates include:
- Justice Mansoor Ali Shah
- Justice Muneeb Akhtar
- Justice Yahya Afridi
These three judges are currently the most senior in the Supreme Court, and the final decision on who will assume the role of the next Chief Justice rests with the special committee.
Key Players in the Special Committee
The 12-member special parliamentary committee made up of both Senate and National Assembly representatives from various political parties. Senate members include JUI’s Kamran Murtaza, PPP’s Farooq Naek, PML-N’s Azam Nazir Tarar, and PTI’s Barrister Ali Zafar. National Assembly members include PML-N’s Khawaja Asif, Ahsan Iqbal, and Shaista Pervaiz, along with other influential names like PPP’s Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and Naveed Qamar.
The committee is responsible for reviewing the panel of three judges and deciding on the new Chief Justice of Pakistan, a task they will handle within the framework of the 26th Amendment.
What Does the 26th Constitutional Amendment Say?
With the signing of the 26th Constitutional Amendment by President Asif Ali Zardari, new rules govern the Chief Justice’s appointment process. According to the new law, the Chief Justice must submit three names to the parliamentary committee three days prior to the appointment. The deadline for Justice Faez Isa to send these names is October 22, 2024.
This amendment introduces a new system for the appointment of the Chief Justice, shifting some of the responsibility from the judiciary to the parliamentary committee, ensuring broader input from political representatives.
Next Steps in the Selection Process
Once the names submitted by Justice Faez Isa, the parliamentary committee will review the credentials of the three judges and make their selection. Sources indicate that the Ministry of Law is preparing to send the summary of the three senior judges to the committee later today.
The decision will not only determine the next Chief Justice but will also play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Pakistan’s judicial system. The special committee’s decision could potentially be announce as early as this evening, marking a significant moment in Pakistan’s legal history.
Who Will Be the Next Chief Justice of Pakistan?
As the country waits in anticipation, the decision on who will be the next Chief Justice of Pakistan now lies in the hands of the parliamentary committee. With three top contenders—Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Muneeb Akhtar, and Justice Yahya Afridi—one of these distinguished judges will soon appointed to the nation’s highest judicial position.
