Chief Justice of Pakistan

Pakistan's government has amended the constitution to empower parliament to appoint the Supreme Court's chief justice, a decision that has ignited political controversy and accusations of judicial subversion. The special parliamentary committee, following the 26th Constitutional Amendment, is expected to nominate a new chief justice from among the top three senior judges—Yahya Afridi, Mansoor Ali Shah, and Munib Akhtar—bypassing the traditional seniority-based succession. This change, which comes just before the retirement of Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, has been criticized by the opposition party led by former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who views it as an erosion of judicial independence. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hailed the amendment as a historic reaffirmation of parliamentary supremacy, claiming it addresses past judicial interference in government functions. Meanwhile, Khan remains imprisoned on corruption charges, and accusations of political maneuvering surround the rapid constitutional changes. The upcoming decisions of the parliamentary committee are closely watched as they may significantly influence Pakistan's legal landscape.