Justice Qazi Faez Isa has ascended as the 29th Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) following an official oath-taking ceremony on Sunday.
The transition follows the retirement of his predecessor, Umar Ata Bandial, who retired from the position a day before. President Dr. Arif Alvi officiated the oath during a ceremony at the President’s House in Islamabad, witnessed by a congregation of top government officials, caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, military dignitaries, federal ministers, senators, and foreign ambassadors.
Despite the significant appointment, Justice Isa’s tenure as the head of the judiciary is anticipated to be brief, concluding on October 25, 2024.
Justice Isa’s Career and Background
The distinguished career of Justice Isa started when he assumed the role of a judge at the apex court on September 5, 2014. Interestingly, even as the senior puisne judge, he hadn’t been assigned any constitutional case for the preceding three years, owing to a presidential reference lodged against him in 2019.
Born on October 26, 1959, in Quetta, Justice Isa hails from a notable lineage: the son of the late Qazi Mohammad Isa, a luminary in the Pakistan Movement and a trusted associate of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. His educational journey commenced in Quetta and progressed through O and A levels at Karachi Grammar School, culminating in legal studies in London at the prestigious Inns of Court School of Law.
Steadfast Commitment to Justice
Justice Isa initiated his legal career with the Balochistan High Court on January 30, 1985, and earned the designation of an advocate of the Supreme Court by March 1998. Marking a period of defiance against unconstitutional practices during the Pervez Musharraf regime on November 3, 2007, he chose not to represent before the judges who had sworn under the Provisional Constitution Order (PCO). Following the Supreme Court’s annulment of the November 3 decision, Justice Isa was appointed directly as a judge of the provincial high court on August 5, 2009.
Read: Justice Qazi Faez Isa To Take Oath Today As the 29th Chief Justice of Pakistan
With a history of 27 years in the legal domain before his appointments in the Balochistan High Court and the Supreme Court, Justice Isa has been a notable figure sought for counsel in various complex cases by different high courts and the Supreme Court, even offering his expertise in international arbitrations. His steadfast commitment to justice and illustrious career path now culminate in his role as the Chief Justice, marking a significant chapter in Pakistan’s judiciary.
