Islamabad: In an expected move , the parliamentary committee on Tuesday nominated Justice Yahya Afridi as chief justice of Pakistan. He has been picked up as top judge of Pakistan under 26th constitutional amendment. The newly passed 26th amendment changed the procedure of the appointment of the chief justice of Pakistan.
Earlier , the senior most judge was appointed as a successor of the outgoing top judge of Pakistan. In a passion to prove supermacy of the parliament and prove that judiciary is a subordinate institute to the parliament,
Shahbaz- led government finished the automatic system of elevation of the senior most judge of the SCP as a chief justice and gave its authority to a parliamentary committee .
The amendment changing the appointment of SCP ‘s chief justice was passed by the parliament in total haste so that the government gets legal authority to appoint Chief Justice of Pakistan of its own choice on the retirement of CJP Qazi Faez Essa on October 24.
Two most senior judges of SCP–Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Muneeb Akhtar — are the first victims of the 26th amendment.
The media reports said Justice Yahya Afridi ‘s nomination has been made by the committee of the parlIament with majority votes.
These reports added that Justice Yahya ‘s nomination as CJP got 8:1 votes ratio. Karman Murtaza of JUI-F opposed the nomination of Justice Yahya Afridi .
Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) of Imran Khan had boycotted the proceedings of the parliamentary committee , which approved nomination of Justice Yahya Afridi as CJP. The nominated CJP hails from KPK where Imran Khan ‘s PTI is in the power.
The lawyers fraternity is also at odds with the government over passing of 26th amendment arguing that it aims at making top judiciary of Pakistan subservient to the ruling elite.