ISLAMABAD: After the 26th Constitutional Amendment was approved by both the National Assembly and Senate, Justice Yahya Afridi, the third-senior judge in the Supreme Court, has emerged as the frontrunner for the position of Chief Justice of Pakistan.
The newly passed amendments have shifted the process of appointing the Chief Justice to a 12-member parliamentary committee, which will include eight members from the National Assembly and four from the Senate. The committee is expected to be formed soon, possibly today, to select the new Chief Justice.
This development ends the chances of appointment for Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Muneeb Akhtar, the second most senior judge, largely due to their controversial decisions, which have been unpopular with the government and its allied parties.
Both judges have been viewed by the ruling coalition as facilitators of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). However, PTI claims that the two judges have always made decisions based on merit.
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It is important to note that the current Chief Justice, Qazi Faez Isa, is set to retire on October 25. His departure has sparked a reshuffling in the judiciary, and with the 26th Amendment now in place, the process of appointing his successor has been taken out of the judiciary’s hands and placed into the political realm.
Government and coalition parties had pushed for these changes, aiming to bring more transparency and accountability to the appointment of the top judiciary post.
The opposition, particularly PTI, has raised concerns, arguing that the amendments could lead to political interference in the judiciary, potentially compromising its independence.
Justice Yahya Afridi, known for his balanced approach and integrity, is seen by many as a suitable candidate to lead the judiciary in these testing times.
However, with the new parliamentary committee playing a central role, the coming days will reveal how the political and judicial landscape will evolve.