Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial is the only Pakistani named in the list of 100 most influential people of 2022 by Time’s Magazine. He rose to prominence due to his role in defending the constitution of Pakistan in the face of the threat posed by the looming political uncertainty in the country.
“How far he succeeds in this task [of delivering justice and defending constitution] may well determine the trajectory of Pakistan, and its region, for years to come”, writes Aitzaz Ahsan.
He played a navigational role in Pakistan’s politics and government during the constitutional crisis faced by the country after the former Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Qasim Suri dismissed the no-confidence motion against former Prime Minister Imran Khan as unconstitutional.
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Aitzaz Ahsan, lawyer and Senator of Pakistan, wrote the profile of CJP Bandial and commended him for his politeness and personal integrity, and acknowledged his role in leading Pakistan through the recent political turmoil and constitutional crisis.
“Widely respected for his personal integrity, the Columbia- and Cambridge-educated jurist bears the heavy mantle of not just delivering justice but also being seen to do so”, Aitzaz Ahsan writes in the profile of CJP Bandial. Furthermore, Aitzaz Ahsan rightly pointed out the determinant role of CJP Bandial in the future of Pakistan. Political uncertainty prevails and constitutional crisis is not over yet, Punjab—the largest (population wise) province of Pakistan, remains in a political turmoil as the Hamza Shehbaz has lost the support of majority in the provincial assembly after the de-seating of dissident MPAs of PTI. The Federal capital also remains in the grip of political uncertainty with varying reports about the continuation of government coming out each day. In such a scenario, surely the Judiciary under the leadership of Umer Ata Bandial has key responsibility of maintaining constitutional order.