PM's approval sought for successor to CJP Khosa

(MENAFN- Gulf Times) As incumbent Chief Justice of Pakistan Asif Saeed Khosa is set to doff his robes on December 21, the law ministry has sent a summary to Prime Minister Imran Khan for approval for the elevation of senior puisne judge Justice Gulzar Ahmed as the country's top adjudicator.
When he is sworn into the prestigious office, Justice Ahmed, who enjoys the reputation of being one of the most honest and courteous judges in the judiciary, will be the 27th Chief Justice of Pakistan, to serve till February 21, 2022.
The law ministry's move to send the summary for the premier's approval has laid to rest the swirling speculation that the federal government intends to raise the retirement age of Supreme Court judges from the existing 65 years to 68.
The speculation gained traction in bar rooms and gatherings as part of the recent electioneering of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) after two parliamentarians of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Fakhar Imam and Amjad Khan Niazi moved a private bill before the National Assembly seeking to raise the retirement age of Supreme Court judges.
The bill, which was later referred to the relevant National Assembly standing committee for discussion, was specifically of Supreme Court judges' retirement age, not that of the high court judges.
The idea set alarm bells ringing for superior court judges, while some senior lawyers feared that the attempt was in fact a ploy, and others questioned its possibility without first amending Article 179 of the Constitution, for which the support of at least two major opposition parties the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) would be needed.
Pakistan Bar Council vice-chairman Syed Amjad Shah said: 'We are opposed to the concept of extensions, be it for the army chief or for the judges.
He said the bar councils believed that this concept negated the rule of law and the strengthening of the democratic institutions.
The legal fraternity believes that the next chief justice will steer the superior judiciary out of controversies and add to the prestige of the institution.
Justice Ahmed, who was part of the five-judge bench that disqualified former premier Nawaz Sharif in the Panama Papers case, is also a member of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) and the Judicial Commission of Pakistan.
He is known for strict actions during suo motu proceedings regarding Karachi, as a result of which a massive anti-encroachment and cleanliness campaign was launched by the metropolitan authorities, though it also created some consternation among the people.
Under Article 184(3) of the Constitution, the Supreme Court enjoys the inherent jurisdiction to directly entertain public interest litigation for the enforcement of fundamental rights if breached, by taking suo motu notice whenever certain important issues are brought to its notice.
After Justice Ahmed, Justice Umar Ata Bandial will be next to become chief justice, with 19 months of service till August 16, 2023.
Justice Qazi Faez Isa will replace Justice Bandial, to serve for more than a year till October 25, 2024.
Then Justice Ijazul Ahsan will become the head of the Supreme Court, for 10 months till August 4, 2025, while Justice Mansoor Ali Shah will become the chief justice to serve for two years until November 26, 2027.
Following that, Justice Munib Akhtar will be elevated to the prestigious position.
He will serve for more than a year till December 13, 2028.
Next would be Justice Yahya Afridi, who will remain in the top office for over a year until January 22, 2030.
Justice Ahmed was born on February 2, 1957, in Karachi in the family of distinguished lawyer Noor Mohamed, and did his early education at Karachi's Gulistan School.
He obtained a BA Degree from Government National College in Karachi and his LLB Degree from SM Law College, Karachi.
He was enrolled as an advocate on January 18, 1986, was an advocate of the High Court from April 4, 1988, and then as an advocate of the Supreme Court on September 15, 2001.
He was also elected as Honorary Secretary of the Sindh High Court Bar Association for the year 1999-2000, practising mainly on the civil corporate side, and was a legal adviser of various multinational and local companies, banks and financial institutions.
He became judge of the Sindh High Court on August 27, 2002.

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