Govt, allies hint at following seniority rule for appointing next CJP

Following a week-long debate in the parliament on the judicial amendment, the government failed to impose a new rule of appointing the Chief Justice of Pakistan, which signalled that the successor of CJP Qazi Faez Isa would be appointed as per seniority rule.

Speaking to a private news channel, Federal Information Minister Atta Tarar said it is expected that Justice Mansoor Ali Shah will be appointed as the next CJP. 

Tarar said constitutional amendments were being made controversial. “We do not have an issue in further deliberation with political parties on the draft,” he added.

It is pertinent to mention that the government could not move a draft in the Senate and the National Assembly on Monday after failure to get Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s support.

On the other hand, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) also expressed full confidence in the appointment of Justice Shah as the next CJP.

“Neither parliament nor the judicial system is running properly," said Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, adding, "We had to wait for 50 years to get justice in the Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto case."

Stressing the need for judicial amendments, the PPP chairman said 15 percent of political cases take 90 percent time of the judiciary. 

“There is no doubt that Justice Shah will take charge as CJP Isa’s successor on October 26, 2024,” said Bilawal.

CJP Faez Isa is set to retire on October 25, 2024.