'Decline CJP offer to protect your integrity': Hamid Khan advises Justice Yahya Afridi

Senior lawyer called October 25 a ‘day of liberation’ to mark end to CJP Isa's tenure

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Senior lawyer and senator Hamid Khan has urged Justice Yahya Afridi to reject the government’s offer to assume the role of chief justice early, advising him to wait for his "rightful turn".

Speaking at a press conference at the Lahore High Court Bar Association on Wednesday, Hamid emphasised that accepting the position prematurely could damage Afridi's reputation.

"Yahya Afridi should wait for his turn and preserve his honour and name. The government’s offer is designed to create divisions within the judiciary," Hamid said.

He also criticised the outgoing Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, accusing him of causing significant harm to the judiciary and the Constitution.

He called on lawyers across the country to observe October 25 as a "day of liberation" to mark the end of Isa’s tenure.

The press conference, attended by Lahore High Court Bar President Asad Manzoor Butt and other legal professionals, highlighted growing concerns within the legal fraternity regarding recent constitutional amendments.

Hamid claimed that the recently passed amendments, including the appointment of the third-ranking judge as chief justice, were aimed at "undermining" the judiciary.

"The country is facing a severe constitutional crisis. These amendments are an assault on the judiciary, just like Israel’s attacks on Gaza. We, the legal community, reject these unconstitutional amendments," Hamid added.

He further remarked that Pakistan’s legal system should only recognise the senior-most judge as the chief justice and warned that attempts to interfere with this process would erode public trust in the judiciary.

In addition to his remarks on Afridi, Hamid criticised political interference in judicial matters and called for greater transparency in the appointment of judges.

He concluded by expressing the legal fraternity’s resolve to fight against any unconstitutional amendments and preserve the integrity of Pakistan's judicial system.

President approves Afridi as new CJP

Earlier today, President Asif Ali Zardari approved the appointment of Justice Yahya Afridi as the next chief justice of Pakistan.

The appointment was made in accordance with Articles 175A(3), 177, and 179 of the Constitution.

Justice Yahya Afridi will take over the role from October 26 for a three-year term. The president also given his approval for the oath-taking ceremony, scheduled for October 26.

This decision follows a recommendation from a parliamentary committee, which met for a second time to finalise Afridi’s appointment.

The committee, which deliberated for over an hour and a half, approved Afridi's name with a two-thirds majority. All parties except Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) participated in the proceedings.

PTI boycotted the committee session, refusing to take part in the discussions on the new chief justice. Despite efforts to bring PTI to the table, the party declined to engage, citing disagreements over the selection process.

Justice Afridi to be sworn in on 26th

The incoming chief justice Yahya Afridi is expected to take oath on Saturday, sources said on Tuesday.

According to the sources, Justice Afridi would form constitutional benches—another feature of the 26th Amendment—after taking oath as the CJP. Cases involving articles 184, 186, and 185 of the Constitution would be heard by those benches.

Justice Afridi came from the Peshawar High Court, where he served as its chief justice from December 2016 to June 2018.

He was previously ignored for elevation to the Supreme Court during the tenure of former chief justice Saqib Nisar.