Profit JUSTICE YAHYA AFRIDI SWORN IN AS 30TH CJP, MOVES IN TO ‘REPAIR SC’S FRACTURES’ In partnership with
Sunday, 27 October, 2024 I | 23 Rabi ul Sani, 1446
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President Asif Ali Zardari administers oath to newly-appointed CJP at a ceremony attended by PM, COAS among other dignitaries
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XV No 110 I 8 Pages I Lahore Edition
New CJP summons full court tomorrow, meeting of ATC administrative judges on Nov 7 and SJC on Nov 8
ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Other judges attending today’s ceremony included Justices Aminuddin Khan, Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi and Shahid Waheed. Former CJP Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was also seen sitting along with them. From the Punjab government, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan and Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb were among those attending the event. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, Balochistan CM Sarfraz Bugti, and KP CM Ali Amin Gandapur were
British lawmakers urge UK govt to step in, secure Imran Khan’s release LONDON
STAFF CORRESPONDENT
Justice Afridi’s experience, wisdom and legal knowledge will guide the judiciary towards upholding justice and strengthening rule of law: PM
CJP Afridi reconstitutes SC judges panel with inclusion of justice Munib Akhtar
ISLAMABAD
SALEEM JADOON
USTICE Yahya Afridi was sworn in as the 30th Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) on Saturday during a well-attended oath-taking ceremony held President House in Islamabad. President Asif Ali Zardari administered the oath to Justice Afridi who will remain the CJP for three years till Oct 26, 2027. Earlier, President Zardari assented to the summery of Justice Afridi’s appointment as Chief Justice of Pakistan on the advice of Prime Minister following the nomination by a Special Parliamentary Committee (SPC), formed under the recently legislated 26th Amendment. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the three services chiefs, including Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir, attended the oath-taking ceremony, along with other judges of the Supreme Court. Senior puisne judge Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, who would have become the CJP had the 26th Amendment not been in place, was unable to attend yesterday’s and today’s events as he was gone for Umrah along with his family. However, most of the other SC judges were seen present at the oath-taking ceremony, including Justices Munib Akhtar, Ayesha Malik and Athar Minallah who were not present during yesterday’s full court reference.
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A group of 20 British parliamentarians from various parties has called on UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy to advocate for the release of Imran Khan from Adiala Jail and to engage with the Pakistani government. The letter, initiated by Kim Johnson, MP for Liverpool Riverside, was sent at the request of Imran Khan’s adviser on International Affairs, Zulfi Bukhari, and has been signed by members from both the Commons and the Lords. Signatories include Kim Johnson MP, Paula Barker MP, Apsana Begum MP, Liam Byrne MP, Rosie Duffield MP, Gill Furniss MP, Paulette Hamilton MP, Peter Lamb MP, Andy McDonald MP, Abtisam Mohamed MP, Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP, Zarah Sultana MP, Steve Witherden MP, Nadia Whittome MP, Baroness Joan Bakewell, Baroness Christine Blower, Lord Peter Hain, Lord John Hendy, and Lord Todoanfel. The letter expresses deep concern over Imran Khan’s continued detention, noting that he was imprisoned in 2023 in a manner deemed legally baseless by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. The signatories argue that this prosecution appears politically motivated and designed to disqualify Khan from future political office.
also present at the gathering. Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani and National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq attended the ceremony as well. Among the federal ministers were Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Petroleum Minister Musadik Malik, and Privatisation Minister Abdul Aleem Khan. Following a swearing-in ceremony at the President’s House, where he was administered the oath by President Asif Ali Zardari, Chief Justice Afridi received a formal guard of honour upon his arrival at the Supreme Court. Praising the new CJP in a post on X, PM
Newly-posted Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi on Saturday reconstituted the Practice and Procedure Committee by including Justice Munib Akhtar. According to a notification issued by the Supreme Court Registrar, the Practice and Procedure Committee the three judges committee, led by chief Justice Yahya Afridi, and comprising Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Munib Akhtar, would constitute benches to hear different cases. Outgoing Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa had removed Justice Munib Akhtar from the committee and replaced him with Justice Aminuddin Khan. It is to be noted that Justice Aminuddin Khan stands the fifth on the seniority list of Shehbaz said: “Justice Afridi’s experience, wisdom and legal knowledge will guide the judiciary towards upholding justice and strengthening the rule of law.” “I am confident that under his leader-
Russia cautions against ‘explosive escalation’ after Israel bombs Iranian military targets MOSCOW AFP
Russia warned on Saturday that an “explosive escalation” in hostilities between Iran and Israel risked spiraling out of control, after Israel bombed military targets in the Islamic republic.
Israel warned Tehran would “pay a heavy price” if it responded to the retaliatory strikes, and the United States and Britain both demanded Iran not escalate the conflict further. Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said she was concerned about “the ongoing explosive esca-
lation” in the region. “We urge all parties involved to exercise restraint, stop the violence and prevent events from developing into a catastrophic scenario,” she said in a statement. Israel hits back at Iran with strikes on military targets, IDF says
two Pakistan Army personnel, and two civilians. The attack occurred in the Nurak area of North Waziristan district’s Mir Ali, according to police and security sources. Six other police officials were injured in the explosion and were immediately transferred to Miranshah Cantonment Hospital for treatment. A little-known militant group calling itself “Aswad ul-Harb,” affiliated with the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), reportedly claimed responsibility for the deadly bombing.
The fresh attack comes a day after fierce clashes with militants in districts surrounding North Waziristan that killed at least 16 Pakistani security force members and injured many others. A local government official who wants not to be named confirmed the toll of dead and wounded. “A suicide bomber on a motorcycle rickshaw detonated at the checkpoint,” near the town of Mir Ali in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a local police officer told AFP on condition of anonymity.
Eight martyred in Mir Ali check-post suicide bombing NORTH WAZIRISTAN STAFF REPORT
Six security personnel and two civilians were martyred in a suicide attack on a security checkpost in Mir Ali area of North Waziristan on Saturday. According to security personnel and officials, the bomber detonated an explosives-laden motorbike rickshaw at the checkpoint, claiming the lives of eight people, including four policemen,
the SC judges. The reshuffle came in the wake of the Practice and Procedure Ordinance 2024, which was signed into law by President Asif Ali Zardari. The Act provided that the chief justice of Pakistan will constitute a three-member committee “comprising the Chief Justice of Pakistan and two senior most Judges” to hear “every cause, appeal or matter before the Supreme Court.” This marks a shift from Justice Isa’s approach, which had led to controversy when he removed Justice Akhtar, reportedly due to differences in the interpretation of judicial powers and procedural roles. Following Akhtar’s removal, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah declined to participate in the committee, leading to further division within the judiciary.
ship, the courts will continue to serve the people of Pakistan with integrity and fairness. My best wishes to him for a successful tenure ahead,” the PM wrote.
JUI-F chief seeks fresh polls, calling existing parliament as ‘illegitimate’
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KHUSHAB
STAFF REPORT
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman once again called for new national elections, labeling the current assembly as “illegitimate” during a meeting with party members here on Saturday. He stated, “The country is headed in the wrong direction; we demand fresh elections.” Rehman emphasized that JUI-F would continue to function as an opposition party and has no plans to align with the government. He remarked, “We have engaged in negotiations with the government as an opposition party and will maintain this position.” Rehman also expressed his commitment to safeguarding the integrity of the 26th Constitutional Amendment, ensuring that its essential elements are not modified in future legislative changes. Regarding the recent leniency shown to leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Rehman refrained from commenting but advised PTI, “They should learn from our example.” In earlier remarks to the media, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman expressed optimism for a productive term under the new Chief Justice of Pakistan, Yahya Afridi. He encouraged the nation to “hold good expectations” for the newly appointed Chief Justice and extended a warm welcome. “May Allah keep those who have departed happy, and may the new ones adhere to the Constitution and the law,” he concluded.