A full court reference to honour the outgoing Chief Justice of Pakistan, Qazi Faez Isa, has been scheduled for October 25, confirmed in an official letter from the Supreme Court registrar, Jazeela Aslam, to the President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Shahzad Shaukat.
This formal farewell ceremony is a customary tradition for outgoing chief justices, with Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, the senior puisne judge, poised to assume Isa’s role as the country’s top judge.
The announcement comes amidst weeks of political uncertainty and rumours of a potential extension to Justice Isa’s tenure through judiciary-related legislation. Speculation around this potential move heightened when the government failed to table proposed amendments in parliament, largely due to the refusal of JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman to support the judiciary package.
At the heart of the debate was a lack of sufficient parliamentary support, with the government falling short of the required two-thirds majority in both the National Assembly and Senate, trailing by 13 votes in the former and 9 in the latter.
Responding to media reports of his position on these proposed amendments, CJP Isa made it clear that he would reject any “individual-specific” provisions. His secretary, Muhammad Mushtaq Ahmad, clarified last month that the chief justice’s off-the-record remarks to journalists had been misreported, necessitating a statement to accurately reflect his stance. Isa emphasised that if the government’s proposal was tailored specifically for his term, it would not be acceptable to him.
Profile of Justice Faez Isa
Justice Qazi Faez Isa took office as the 29th Chief Justice of Pakistan in September 2023, succeeding a career marked by his firm commitment to constitutional law and judicial independence. Born in Quetta on October 26, 1959, he is the son of the late Qazi Mohammad Isa, a prominent figure in the Pakistan Movement, and the grandson of Qazi Jalaluddin, the former prime minister of the Khanate of Kalat.
Justice Isa began his legal career as a member of the Bar of England and Wales in the 1980s and practised law for over 27 years in Pakistan, appearing before all high courts, the Federal Shariat Court, and the Supreme Court. His distinguished career includes tenure as a member of various bar associations, including the Balochistan High Court Bar Association and the Supreme Court Bar Association, where he served as a life member.
Throughout his career, Justice Isa has been a strong proponent of transparent judicial processes, advocating for the induction of officials in high courts through public advertisements. His rulings have consistently reflected a steadfast adherence to the Constitution and the rule of law.
Justice Isa was appointed to the Supreme Court of Pakistan in 2014, where he has since earned a reputation for his judicial integrity and commitment to justice.
