In a recent news, Justice Yahya Afridi, today, took oath as the 30th Chief Justice of Pakistan in an oath taking ceremony held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr (President’s House). The Supreme Court Justices including Justice Ayesha Malik and Athar Minallah also attended the ceremony. Additionally, it should be noted that the Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, along with Speaker of the National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Chief Minister Punjab, Maryum Nawaz Sharif, also attended the ceremony.
President @AAliZardari administering the oath of office to Justice Yahya Afridi as the Chief Justice of Pakistan at an oath-taking ceremony held at Aiwan-e-Sadr pic.twitter.com/zGXhqv2YGs
— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) October 26, 2024
However, it is pertinent to mention here that Justice Yahya Afridi has been nominated after the 26th constitutional amendment which has given powers to the Special Parliamentary Committee to appoint the Chief Justice and not on the seniority bases. Prior to coming to Supreme Court as a judge, Justice Yahya Afridi had been the judge of the Peshawar High Court since June, 2018 and then he was being promoted to the judge of the Supreme Court.
The new Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Yahya Afridi, has called for a full court meeting on Monday, October 28th, and reconstituted the committee under the Practice and Procedure Act to include the two most senior judges of the Supreme Court. pic.twitter.com/wTPMgsaPVN
— PTI USA Official (@PTIOfficialUSA) October 26, 2024
All the attendants present their congratulated Chief Justice Yahya Afridi on becoming the Chief Justice of Supreme Court and gave him best wishes for the future endeavors. It should be noted that Justice Yahya Afridi has taken a positive step just after becoming the Chief Justice of Pakistan by ordering that all the regular hearings of all benches of the Supreme Court will now be live-streamed.
I congratulate Justice Yahya Afridi on taking oath as the Chief Justice of Pakistan. His experience, wisdom and legal knowledge will guide the judiciary towards upholding justice and strengthening the rule of law. I am confident that under his leadership, the courts will continue…
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) October 26, 2024
For that move, he has also stated that it will require the consent from all the parties involved especially focusing on maintaining confidentiality for female litigants. However, the move will allow the overseas Pakistanis to hear the Supreme Court cases live and with ease, thus providing it a global access and removing the barrier between the general public and the judges.
This will also inculcate a sense of responsibility and accountability into Supreme Court judges and hence, they will be able to take the proceedings in a transparent way. Not to mention, the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Yahya Afridi has also called a full court meeting on October 28.
