Bilal Ahmed 
(C)The News,justice yahya afridi appointed as pakistans next chief justice
This is the first time in the history of Pakistan that president Asif Ali Zardari has given the charge of CJP to Justice Yahya Afridi for a fixed term of 3years. The sitting is permitted by the Constitution of Pakistan under Articles 175A(3), 177, 179 and subject to the approval of the twelve-member parliamentary committee and with the Premier’s permission in form of permission being granted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The appointment has been made in the phase of the Constitution (26th Amendment) Act 2024 for the new modality in the selection of Chief Justice. The old system has changed: The CJP is selected by a parliamentary committee that is composed of government and opposition from three senior judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. This amendment changed the operation of the seniority principle since Justice Mansoor Ali Shah who was the most senior judge after the CJP Isa was nominated.
Finally, the committee decided on Justice Afridi and forwarded his name to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and then the Prime Minister recommended the name to President Zardari. The Ministry of Law and Justice later released the official notice of the appointment, which proved the new combined style of appointment at the highest level.
A Distinguished Legal Career
Justice Afridi had a rich experience in the judicial service before he assumed this new position. His qualifications include having studied at Aitchison College and Punjab University; with majors in Political Science, Economics, and Law. He started his tenure at the superior judiciary after joining the Peshawar High Court in 2010.
Another record Judge Muhammad Afridi became the first judge from the Federally Administered Tribal Area to become the Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court in December 2016. His promotion to the Supreme Court of Pakistan in June 2018 helped him to be recognized among the most influential judges in the Pakistan judiciary hence the present appointment as the chief judge of the nation.
