The full court reference honouring outgoing Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa is scheduled for October 25, as stated in a letter from the Supreme Court registrar.
The letter, addressed to Supreme Court Bar Association President Shahzad Shaukat, was issued by Registrar Jazeela Aslam.
Justice Mansoor Ali Shah is expected to succeed CJP Isa following his retirement. Since August, there have been speculations about the government potentially extending CJP Isa’s term.
Last month, CJP Isa clarified that he had refused a proposed extension in his tenure under age limit reforms.
The opposition has opposed any attempts to extend the incumbent CJP’s tenure, with PTI founder Imran Khan threatening nationwide protests if such a move is made.
During an informal discussion with reporters in Islamabad, following a full court session marking the start of the new judicial year, CJP Isa responded to questions about his alleged willingness to accept an extension, provided it applied to all judges. He dismissed claims made by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s adviser, Rana Sanaullah, asserting that he had categorically refused any extension to his term.
In a subsequent statement, the SC expressed regret over how an off-the-record conversation between CJP Isa and journalists was reported, leading to “unwarranted sensationalism.”
A press release signed by CJP’s Secretary, Dr Muhammad Mushtaq Ahmad, emphasised that focusing undue attention on individuals detracts from the significance of institutions, which should prioritize serving the public.
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Meanwhile, CJP Isa refused to take a farewell dinner arranged for him. An invitation to Attorney General of Pakistan Mansoor Awan said that it was a practice for a farewell dinner to be arranged on the occasion.
“As regards the attached note regarding dinner is concerned since the same will cost about two million rupees, I do not want to have one,” the CJP said.
The additional registrar has written to the Supreme Court Bar Association secretary regarding the retirement of Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa on October 25.
Chief Justice Isa has accepted the invitation from the SCBA, which will host a farewell dinner in his honour on October 24.
The SCBA had sent a letter for the dinner on October 10, in which CJP Isa expressed his gratitude to the Bar. Given that the full court reference for his retirement is set for October 25, it was deemed appropriate to hold the farewell dinner a day earlier.
