Just two days to go before Justice Umar Ata Bandial of the Supreme Court (SC) takes oath as the new chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) on February 2, 2022 for a period of one year, seven months and 15 days to be followed by Justice Qazi Faez Isa as the next CJP who will take oath of his office on September 17, 2023, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Sunday.
The incumbent CJP Justice Gulzar Ahmed will complete his term in office on February 1, 2022.
Currently, the total strength of judges in the apex court is 17 of whom seven will have the opportunity to become the CJP while the remaining 10 will retire as apex court judges.
Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Muneeb Akhtar and Justice Yahya Afridi are next in line, while the newly appointed Justice Ayesha A. Malik will have the honour to become the first female chief justice of Pakistan.
Justice Isa will retire as the CJP on November 25, 2024 after remaining in the office for one year, one month and nine days.
Justice Ijazul Ahsan, who will succeed him as the CJP on November 26, 2024, is due to retire on August 4, 2025.
Justice Mansoor Ali Shah is next in line who will take the oath of his office on the very next day, August 5, 2025, and will remain in office until November 27, 2027.
Justice Mansoor’s term will last for two years and two months.
Justice Muneeb Akhtar will follow him as the country’s new CJP; he will take the oath of his office on November 28, 2027, and will retire on December 13, 2028.
Justice Yahya Afridi is next on the seniority list who will take over as the next CJP on December 14, 2028.
Justice Ayesha A. Malik, who will follow Justice Afridi, will become the chief justice of Pakistan on January 23, 2030.
She will remain in office until June 2, 2031; hence serving at the post for over one year and four months.
Reporter Malik Ashraf