The Supreme Court on Friday held a full court reference to bid outgoing Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa farewell, where lawyers and fellow judges recounted his tenure’s highlights. Justice Isa was sworn in as the 29th CJP on Sept 17, 2023 at a symbolic ceremony, where his wife Sarina Isa was standing beside him as he read out the oath. Justice Yahya Afridi, who was nominated by a newly formed Special Parliamentary Committee (SPC), is set to take oath as the next CJP tomorrow (Saturday). The full court reference was live-streamed on the Supreme Court’s website and its YouTube channel. Senior puisne judge Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, who would have become the CJP had the 26th Amendment not been in place, was unable to attend the gathering as he was gone for Umrah along with his family.

The seats next to the CJP usually occupied by Justice Shah and Justice Munib Akhtar were seen taken by Justice Afridi and Justice Aminuddin Khan instead due to their absence. Justices Ayesha Malik, Athar Minallah and Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan were also not present at the occasion. A total of 16 judges, including two ad-hoc and two of the Federal Shariat Court, attended the event. Among the 16 judges were also Justices Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, and Shahid Waheed. In his speech, CJP-designate Afridi described Justice Isa as a “good, hearing human being” but also warned of his “fury”. Justice Afridi said: “If you meet, greet and treat Justice Faez Isa with a smile and humility, he will reciprocate with such gentle softness, likeness and care that it will leave you astonished.

“But mind you, if you in any way provoke him, or if I may say so poke the bear, then even hell hath no fury to match his scorn and only God may help and save you,” he added. The incoming chief justice said he had “mixed feelings” about bidding his predecessor farewell as he would “surely miss your sense of humour and abruptness” but also was glad that he was leaving in good health to enjoy his time ahead. Justice Afridi praised the outgoing top judge for cases pertaining to women’s rights, highlighting that Justice Isa “would leave no bounds to ensure the preservation of their rights and that with the full might of the court”. Justice Afridi also took the opportunity to indicate his priorities and principles according to which he would guide the apex court as its chief justice.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan