Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan takes oath as acting CJP

Justice Khan authored the July 28 verdict on the disqualification of deposed PM Nawaz Sharif in Panama Papers case

ISLAMABAD: Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, the senior most judge of the Supreme Court (SC) after Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Main Saqib Nisar, has taken oath as the Acting Chief Justice of Pakistan.

The oath was administered by Justice Azmat Saeed Sheikh in a simple but dignified ceremony in the top court on Friday. “Honourable Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan will act as CJP during the period Honourable Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, CJP, remains abroad,” a statement said.

Justice Khan authored the July 28 verdict on the disqualification of deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif in the Panama Papers case.

The former premier was disqualified under Article 62(1) (f) for failing to declare unclaimed wages earned as an executive of a Dubai-based company owned by his son in the assets statement he filed alongside his nomination papers for NA-120 in the 2013 general elections.



According to Radio Pakistan, CJP Nisar is in Sri Lanka to attend a conference. Justice Nisar was sworn in as the 25th chief justice of Pakistan on Dec 31 last year. Born in Lahore in January 1954, Justice Nisar was appointed as the judge of the Lahore High Court in 1998 and was elevated to the SC in 2010.

The ceremony was attended by judges of the apex court, advocate general Islamabad, senior lawyers and law officers. SC Registrar Arbab Muhammad Arif conducted the proceedings of the oath-taking ceremony. Officers and staff of the SC were also present on the occasion.