Justice Yayha Afridi Nominated as Pakistan's Next Chief Justice

The Special Parliamentary Committee in Pakistan nominated Justice Yayha Afridi as the new chief justice, following a constitutional amendment altering the selection process. This change marks a shift from the traditional seniority-based system to an SPC recommendation, amid political tension and judicial reforms.

The Special Parliamentary Committee has nominated Justice Yayha Afridi as the new chief justice of Pakistan. This decision comes in the wake of the 26th Constitutional Amendment, which introduced notable changes in the judiciary's appointment process.

Traditionally, the senior-most judge would ascend to the position, but the revamped system now requires the chief justice to be appointed based on the recommendation of a special committee from among the top three most senior judges. This move marks a departure from the judiciary's previous autonomy.

The committee met twice after some opposition members skipped the first session, underscoring political tensions. The outgoing chief justice, Qazi Faez Isa, is set to retire, and Justice Afridi's nomination reflects a recalibrated balance between political and judicial domains.

(With inputs from agencies.)