ISLAMABAD – President Asif Ali Zardari has appointed Justice Yahya Afridi as the new Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) for a three-year term starting on October 26.
The decision came after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sent a summary to the president, following the recommendation of the Special Parliamentary Committee. This government committee and some opposition members nominated Justice Afridi during a meeting on Tuesday night.
Justice Afridi’s appointment, however, sparked some controversy, as he is the junior-most judge among the three candidates. Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Muneeb Akhtar were ranked higher in seniority.
Members of the opposition, including those from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC)—boycotted the session. Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal expressed disappointment but confirmed that the committee needed a two-thirds majority to proceed.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal praised the qualifications and respectful nature of all three judges. The appointment process has changed under the 26th Constitutional Amendment, requiring recommendations from a Special Parliamentary Committee instead of a direct presidential decision.
