President Asif Ali Zardari has approved the appointment of Justice Yahya Afridi as the new Chief Justice of Pakistan for a three-year term. This decision was made in line with Articles 175A(3), 177, and 179 of the Constitution. Justice Afridi is set to assume office on October 26, with an oath-taking ceremony scheduled for the same day, which has also been greenlit by the president.
The decision comes after a parliamentary committee held a second meeting to finalize Afridi’s nomination. After over an hour and a half of deliberation, the committee endorsed his appointment with a two-thirds majority. Except for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), all political parties participated in the process. PTI, however, boycotted the committee session, expressing disagreements over the selection process and opting not to engage in discussions.
Earlier, the Supreme Court’s registrar had presented three candidates to the committee for consideration. Along with Afridi, Justices Mansoor and Muneeb were also shortlisted. After reviewing their profiles and qualifications, the committee chose to back Afridi.
Justice Afridi is scheduled to be sworn in on October 26, sources have reported. After taking the oath, he is expected to form constitutional benches to handle cases involving articles 184, 186, and 185 of the Constitution, in line with provisions under the 26th Amendment.
Justice Afridi’s previous experience includes serving as the Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court from December 2016 to June 2018. During the tenure of former Chief Justice Saqib Nisar, Afridi’s elevation to the Supreme Court was initially overlooked. However, his career trajectory has now led him to this significant role.
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Who is Yahya Afridi?
Justice Yahya Afridi was born on January 23, 1965, in Dera Ghazi Khan. His appointment as Chief Justice was backed by a parliamentary committee with a two-thirds majority, and the recommendation has now been sent to the prime minister for final approval. Afridi’s career reflects his significant contributions to both provincial and federal levels of Pakistan’s judiciary.
He received his early education at Lahore’s Aitchison College, a well-known institution for shaping many of the country’s prominent figures. He later graduated from Government College, Lahore, and pursued a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Punjab.
His academic journey took him further when he earned a Commonwealth Scholarship to study at Jesus College, Cambridge University, where he completed his LL.M. This exposure to international legal systems helped shape his legal career, paving the way for his rise to the highest echelons of Pakistan’s judiciary.
Afridi began his legal practice in 1990 as an advocate in the high courts, and by 2004, he had advanced to practicing in the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Over the years, he served in various capacities, including as the Assistant Advocate General for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which allowed him to gain a deep understanding of legal challenges specific to the province and establish a solid reputation.
In 2010, he was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Peshawar High Court and was promoted to a permanent judge in March 2012. Afridi’s rise continued, and on December 30, 2016, he took the oath as Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court. His tenure saw him handling high-profile cases, earning him widespread respect for his commitment to fairness and justice.
His elevation to the Supreme Court came in June 2018, where he made notable contributions. For instance, he was part of the larger bench in the case concerning the reserved seats for the Sunni Etihad Council, delivering a dissenting opinion that highlighted his independent legal reasoning.
Justice Afridi also served on the nine-member larger bench that reviewed the presidential reference against the execution of former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, a historically significant case. In 2024, he took a principled stand by opting out of the three-member judges’ committee reviewing the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Ordinance, showcasing his measured and thoughtful approach.
Throughout his career, Afridi has been a staunch advocate for judicial independence. In 2007, he took a firm stand against the imposition of emergency by then-President Pervez Musharraf, which saw many judges placed under house arrest. His dedication to upholding the Constitution and maintaining the judiciary’s integrity has been a defining feature of his career.