ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday appointed Justice Yahya Afridi, the third on the seniority list of judges, as Pakistan’s next chief justice after a 12-member special parliamentary committee selected him a day earlier for the position.
Afridi’s appointment was made by the committee formed under the contentious 26th Constitutional Amendment, which was tasked with choosing one of the three senior-most judges of the Supreme Court to succeed Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa, who is set to retire on Friday.
The committee also included opposition lawmakers from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, who boycotted the proceedings after objecting to the government’s handling of the constitutional amendment, accusing it of encouraging defections and undermining party loyalty.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (3) of Article 175 A read with Articles 177 and 179 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is pleased to appoint Hon’ble Mr. Justice Yahya Afraid, Judge of Supreme Court, as Chief Justice of Pakistan, for a term of three years with effect from 26.10.2024,” said a notification circulated by the law ministry.
Among the three senior-most judges considered for the key post, the other two were Justices Mansoor Ali Shah and Munib Akhtar, with the government offering no explanation as to why they were passed over for the position.
The contentious constitutional amendment passed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s administration has sparked heated debate in the country, with opposition parties and prominent lawyers alleging that the new law aims to curtail the judiciary’s independence.
The government has rejected these allegations, with several officials stating that the amendment is intended to empower parliament and provide speedy justice to citizens through judicial reforms.
However, lawyers across the country threatened to protest before the adoption of the constitutional amendment if Justice Shah, who was expected to succeed the current chief justice, was not appointed.
These lawyers suspected the government of sidelining Shah due to recent Supreme Court rulings in political cases.
Pakistan’s Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, who was part of the parliamentary committee that agreed on Afridi’s appointment, defended the decision, saying it was made through a majority vote.
According to Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Afridi’s name was chosen by “a two-thirds majority” of the committee members.
Pakistan president appoints Justice Yahya Afridi as new Supreme Court chief justice
https://arab.news/mtaf9
Pakistan president appoints Justice Yahya Afridi as new Supreme Court chief justice
- Justice Afridi was third on the seniority list provided to a parliamentary committee that took the decision
- His appointment was made under the contentious 26th Constitutional Amendment with ‘two-thirds majority’
Pakistan PM calls for faster CPEC implementation, pledges security for Chinese workers
- Shehbaz Sharif pushes expanded cooperation in agriculture, IT and mining under CPEC phase two
- Chinese envoy reaffirms Beijing’s support for Pakistan’s sovereignty and economic development
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday called for speeding up projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and pledged stronger security guarantees for Chinese workers and investments, during a meeting with China’s ambassador in Islamabad.
Sharif made the remarks as the two countries strive to launch the second phase of CPEC, a multibillion-dollar infrastructure and energy initiative launched in 2015 as part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
CPEC’s first phase focused largely on power generation and transport infrastructure aimed at easing Pakistan’s chronic energy shortages and improving connectivity. The second phase seeks to expand cooperation into industrial development, with an emphasis on special economic zones and export-oriented growth.
“While highlighting the importance of accelerating ongoing CPEC projects, the Prime Minister stressed on the need to enhance cooperation in agriculture and IT and mining & minerals,” said a statement circulated by the PM Office after the meeting.
“He also underscored Pakistan’s resolve to provide a secure and conducive environment for Chinese personnel, investments, and institutions in Pakistan,” it added.
Chinese nationals and projects in Pakistan have faced security threats in the past, including attacks by militant groups targeting infrastructure sites and convoys. Islamabad has repeatedly vowed to tighten security and has deployed special protection units for Chinese workers.
China is Pakistan’s closest ally in the region and a key economic partner, with CPEC widely regarded by Islamabad as central to long-term economic growth.
During the meeting, the prime minister conveyed greetings to Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, particularly on the occasion of the Chinese New Year.
China’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, reiterated Beijing’s support for Pakistan’s sovereignty and socioeconomic development, according to the statement. Both sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues and agreed to maintain close coordination.
