ISLAMABAD: Senior puisne judge Justice Mansoor Ali Shah was sworn in as interim Chief Justice of Pakistan on Monday.
The Supreme Court hosted the oath-taking ceremony, which was attended by justices, top counsel, Attorney Generals, and judicial personnel.
Justice Muneeb Akhtar administered the oath of office to Justice Mansoor Ali Shah. The appointment comes before Chief Justice Yahya Afridi’s official journey to China, which will last from April 22 to 26, during which Justice Shah will serve as Acting Chief Justice.
Earlier, according to the announcement by the Supreme Court, the Hon’ble Chief Justice of Pakistan, Mr. Justice Yahya Afridi, will head a distinguished delegation to the 20th Conference of Chief Justices of the Supreme Courts of SCO Member States, scheduled in Hangzhou, China, from April 22 to 26, 2025.
The Chief Justice will be accompanied by Mr. Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, Mr. Justice Shahid Waheed, and two judges of the district judiciary: Mr. Zafar Jan, District and Sessions Judge Gwadar, the remotest district of Balochistan, and Ms. Nadia Gul Wazir, Senior Civil Judge District Lakhi Marwat, a remote district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to press release.
Their participation underscores Justice Yahya Afridi’s commitment to inclusivity within the judicial system as well as ownership of judicial officers performing duty in far-off places.
During this significant event, an important Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is expected to be signed between the Supreme Court of Pakistan and the Supreme People’s Court of China.
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Shahid Waheed will deliver a keynote speech titled “Judicial Application of Artificial Intelligence,” highlighting AI’s transformative potential to enhance judicial efficiency, transparency, and accessibility.
Additionally, on the sidelines of the SCO Conference, Chief Justice Yahya Afridi will hold bilateral discussions with the Chief Justice of Iran, exploring ways to deepen judicial exchanges and collaborative engagements. This interaction underscores Pakistan’s dedication to strengthening international judicial cooperation.
