‘Dawn of new era’ as Justice Qazi Faez Isa becomes Pakistan's 29th chief justice

Supreme Court Judge Justice Qazi Faez on Sunday took oath as the 29th chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) after his predecessor Umar Ata Bandial hung up his robes a day earlier. President Dr Arif Alvi administered the oath at a ceremony held at the President House in Islamabad. Top government and military officials, including caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, Army Chief General Asim Munir, senators and foreign ambassadors, attended the ceremony. Justice Isa's tenure as the country's chief justice, however, will be quite brief, as he is set to retire from the position on October 25, 2024. He took oath as the apex court's judge on September 5, 2014. Despite being the senior puisne judge, he was not assigned any constitutional case for the past three years, following a presidential reference filed against him in 2019. The newly-appointed top judge of the country was born on October 26, 1959, in Quetta. His father, the late Qazi Mohammad Isa, was a prominent leader in the Pakistan Movement and a close associate of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

On Sunday, Justice Qazi Faez was sworn in as the 29th Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), taking over from his predecessor Umar Ata Bandial, who retired a day earlier.

The oath was administered by President Dr. Arif Alvi at a ceremony held at the President House in Islamabad. The event was attended by high-ranking government and military officials, including interim Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, Army Chief General Asim Munir, senators, and foreign ambassadors.

Justice Isa's tenure as Chief Justice of Pakistan will be relatively short, as he is set to retire from the position on October 25, 2024. He was appointed as a judge of the apex court on September 5, 2014, but for the past three years, he was not assigned any constitutional cases due to a presidential reference filed against him in 2019.

Born on October 26, 1959, in Quetta, Justice Isa comes from a distinguished family; his father, the late Qazi Mohammad Isa, was a prominent leader in the Pakistan Movement and a close associate of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

After completing his early education in Quetta, Justice Isa pursued O and A levels studies at the Karachi Grammar School. He then traveled to London for higher education in law and completed the bar professional examination at the Inns of Court School of Law.

He began his legal career in Balochistan High Court on January 30, 1985, and became an advocate of the Supreme Court in March 1998. During the emergency declared by Pervez Musharraf on November 3, 2007, Justice Isa refused to appear before judges who took an oath under the Provisional Constitution Order (PCO). Subsequently, he was directly appointed as a judge of the provincial high court on August 5, 2009, following the annulment of the November 3 decision by the Supreme Court.

Justice Isa has had a 27-year career in the legal field before being appointed as a judge in the Balochistan High Court and later the Supreme Court. His expertise was sought in various significant cases by different high courts and the Supreme Court, as well as for international arbitrations.

For the past five months, Justice Isa has focused on chamber work only as a form of protest due to his disagreement with the Chief Justice regarding suo motu powers. He abstained from participating in any cases during this time.

Justice Isa possesses a rich background with a 45-year-long career in the legal field. Before his judicial appointment, he contributed articles on various topics, including the Constitution, law, Islam, and the environment, to Pakistan's leading English news publications. Additionally, he co-authored a book titled 'Mass Media Laws and Regulations in Pakistan' in 1997 and authored the report 'Balochistan: Case and Demand' published by the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT) in 2007.

In response to Justice Isa's appointment, senior journalist Mazhar Abbas described it as the beginning of a new era, particularly noting the decision to form a full court to hear a petition against the Practice and Procedure Act. Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed commended CJP Isa for standing firm against pressures and propaganda, emphasizing the importance of upholding the rule of law and the constitution.

Justice Isa's tenure as Chief Justice of Pakistan is expected to be marked by significant legal decisions and contributions to the country's legal landscape.