In a major development, President Arif Alvi has approved the appointment of senior puisne judge Justice Qazi Faez Isa as Pakistan’s 29th chief justice.
According to the details, an announcement was issued by the presidency in this regard. The appointment of Justice Qazi Faez will come into effect on September 17 when the incumbent chief justice of Pakistan (CJP), Justice Umar Ata Bandial, will retire when he will reach retirement age on September 16 under Article 179 of the Constitution.
Read more: Justice Faez Isa issues clarification about viral video clip
“The president has appointed the chief justice under Article 175 of the Constitution. The president will administer oath to Justice Qazi Faez Isa on September 17,” it added.
It may be noted that CJP Bandial took the oath of his office on February 2, 2022, after the retirement of Justice Gulzar Ahmed who got retired after working for more than two years on a top judicial position.
صدر مملکت ڈاکٹر عارف علوی نے جسٹس قاضی فائز عیسیٰ کی بطور چیف جسٹس آف پاکستان تعیناتی کردی
تعیناتی کا اطلاق 17ستمبر 2023ء سے جسٹس عمر عطا بندیال کی ریٹائرمنٹ سے ہوگا
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) June 21, 2023
Justice Isa’s profile
Born on October 26, 1959, in Quetta, Justice Qazi Faez Isa is the son of the late Qazi Mohammad Isa of Pishin, who was in the forefront of the Pakistan Movement.
In his early years, Justice Isa was a part of the Bar of England and Wales in the 1980s and was enrolled as an advocate of the Supreme Court from Balochistan.
He has practiced law for over 27 years before all the high courts, the Federal Shariat Court and the SC. He also served as a member of the Balochistan High Court Bar Association, Sindh High Court Bar Association, and Life Member of the Supreme Court Bar Association, and chief justice of Balochistan during different periods.
Read more: Will President’s Curative Review Petition against Justice Faez Isa succeed?
Justice Faez Isa was also the subject of the presidential reference filed by the PTI government in May 2019, which alleged that he had acquired three properties in London on lease in the name of his wife and children between 2011 and 2015, but did not disclose them in his wealth returns.
Justice Isa had contested the allegations, saying he was not a beneficial owner of the flats — neither directly nor indirectly.