A parliamentary panel in Pakistan has recommended the appointment of a judge, Yahya Afridi, as the new chief justice of the Supreme Court. This decision, which bypassed the senior-most judge, has sparked controversy and deepened a political crisis in the country.
The government swiftly sent a summary to the President for approval, leading to Afridi's appointment. The move disregarded two other judges, Mansoor Ali Shah and Munib Akhtar, who were also under consideration for the position.
The parliamentary committee, with a two-thirds majority, endorsed Afridi as the top judge, a choice that was met with opposition from the party of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Khan's party had supported the appointment of Mansoor Ali Shah.
This development comes as Chief Justice Qazi Faez Esa is set to retire, and follows recent constitutional amendments empowering a parliamentary panel to select the new chief justice. Critics, including Khan's party and legal professionals, have expressed dissatisfaction with the process and outcome.
The decision to appoint Afridi is expected to exacerbate the ongoing political turmoil in Pakistan, which intensified after Khan's removal from office in 2022. Khan, currently imprisoned on corruption charges, has faced numerous legal battles and convictions, though some have been overturned on appeal.
