Justice Yahya Afridi has officially taken the oath as the new Chief Justice of Pakistan. The ceremony took place at Aiwan-e-Sadr (the President’s house), where President Asif Ali Zardari administered the oath.
The event was attended by prominent figures, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, heads of the three armed forces, Speaker of the National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, senior judges from the judiciary, and provincial leaders such as Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. Other notable attendees included Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, Punjab Governor Saleem Haider, federal ministers, and Supreme Court Justices Ayesha Malik and Athar Minallah.
This appointment follows the approval of the 26th Constitutional Amendment, under which a special parliamentary committee nominated Justice Yahya Afridi for the Chief Justice position.
Farewell Address by Chief Justice Faez Isa
In his farewell speech, outgoing Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa expressed deep gratitude to his colleagues and supporters, reflecting on his career and personal journey. He acknowledged the pivotal role played by former Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry in his appointment as the Chief Justice of the Balochistan High Court during challenging times. Justice Isa highlighted the unique responsibility of judges in upholding truth and justice.
He reminisced about his education in Balochistan and Karachi, praising his family’s commitment to learning and credited his wife for her unwavering support in public service initiatives. Additionally, he emphasized the importance of environmental conservation, sharing a meaningful conversation with his granddaughter about the protection of Islamabad’s Margalla Hills for future generations.
Path to Chief Justice Appointment
Justice Yahya Afridi was nominated for the Chief Justice role by a special parliamentary committee from among the three most senior Supreme Court judges, as per the newly adopted 26th Constitutional Amendment. Following his nomination, the prime minister sent a summary to the president, who approved Justice Afridi’s appointment as the 30th Chief Justice of Pakistan.
Born on January 23, 1965, in Dera Ismail Khan, Justice Afridi began his legal career as an advocate in the High Court in 1990 and became an advocate in the Supreme Court in 2004. His career includes roles as Assistant Advocate General for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Federal Counsel for the Government of Pakistan. He was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Peshawar High Court in 2010, later confirmed as a Judge on March 15, 2012. Notably, he became the first judge from the Federally Administered Tribal Area to serve as Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court, a position he held from December 30, 2016, until his elevation to the Supreme Court on June 28, 2018.
Updates to the Supreme Court Website
Following Justice Afridi’s swearing-in, the Supreme Court’s website has been updated to reflect his new position, replacing Qazi Faez Isa’s name with that of Justice Yahya Afridi.
Speaker of the National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, extended his congratulations to Justice Yahya Afridi on assuming the Chief Justice position. He expressed best wishes and noted that this role is both an honor and a privilege. He emphasized that a society cannot thrive without justice and that a robust justice system is vital for strengthening democracy and driving the nation’s progress. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah also congratulated Justice Afridi on his new role.
