Staff Report- Islamabad
President Asif Ali Zardari has appointed Justice Yahya Afridi as the Chief Justice of Pakistan for a term of three years, starting from October 26. This appointment was made under Articles 175 A (3), 177, and 179 of the Constitution. Justice Afridi will be sworn in by President Zardari on the same day.
Justice Afridi’s nomination was approved by a special parliamentary committee with a two-thirds majority, marking the first time such a committee has been constituted for this purpose in the country’s history. His name has been forwarded to the prime minister for final approval.
Born on January 23, 1965, in Dera Ismail Khan, Justice Afridi belongs to the Adam Khel clan of the Afridi tribe and hails from Babari Banda village in Kohat. He attended Aitchison College and Government College in Lahore, later earning a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Punjab. Awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship, he completed his LL.M. from Jesus College, Cambridge University, and participated in a scholarship program for Young Commonwealth Lawyers at the Institute of Legal Studies in London.
Justice Afridi began his legal practice in 1990, starting as an advocate in the high courts and advancing to practice in the Supreme Court of Pakistan by 2004. He served as the Assistant Advocate General for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and as federal counsel for the federal government. In 2010, he was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Peshawar High Court and confirmed as a permanent judge in 2012. He became the Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court in 2016 and was elevated to the Supreme Court of Pakistan in 2018.
Justice Afridi is known for his professionalism, fairness, and commitment to judicial independence. He has been involved in several significant cases, including the review of the presidential reference against the hanging of former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. He always emphasizing the importance of judicial independence.
Justice Afridi’s career reflects a dedication to upholding the Constitution and protecting the judiciary’s role in maintaining the rule of law. His extensive experience and principled approach have earned him widespread respect within the legal community. As Justice Yahya Afridi prepares to take on the role of Chief Justice, legal experts and political observers are closely watching his next steps. His appointment marks a significant moment in Pakistan’s judicial history, promising a tenure characterized by fairness and a steadfast commitment to justice.
Published in Pakistan Khappay, October 23, 2024
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