Justice Qazi Faez Isa Sworn In as Pakistan's 29th Chief Justice, Vows to Restore Prestige and Efficiency

In a historic ceremony held at Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad on Sunday, Justice Qazi Faez Isa was sworn in as the 29th Chief Justice of Pakistan by President Arif Alvi. The ceremony was attended by several high-ranking officials, including caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar and Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir. One notable aspect of the ceremony was the presence of Justice Isa's wife, Sarina Isa, by his side during the oath-taking. This deviated from the usual practice of seating close family members, including spouses, in the front row. Sarina Isa had previously made headlines when she faced a tax probe in 2019, which alleged that her husband owned properties in London.

However, both Justice Isa and his wife were later exonerated after facing backlash from the legal fraternity, who accused the government of targeting the judge for delivering verdicts against the establishment. Justice Isa, known for his independent-minded approach, has faced significant challenges throughout his career. In 2019, his judgment targeting the powerful establishment over a religious party's sit-in in Faizabad caused controversy and led to a case of alleged corruption being filed against him. However, the Supreme Court later rejected the case. Now, as the Chief Justice, his main test will be to hold the general election within 90 days of the dissolution of Parliament on August 9. He will also face a case challenging the trial of civilians by military courts.

The restoration of the prestige and neutrality of the apex court is another crucial task for Chief Justice Isa, as his predecessor, Umar Ata Bandial, is accused of having a soft corner for former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Additionally, he will be tasked with addressing the significant backlog of over 56,000 pending cases in the Supreme Court, some of which have remained unheard for years. Born on October 26, 1959, in Quetta, Justice Isa comes from a family with a deep connection to the establishment of Pakistan. His father, Qazi Muhammad Isa, was a prominent member of the movement for the establishment of Pakistan and a close associate of Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Justice Isa completed his education in Quetta and London, where he pursued law studies and completed the bar professional examination. He began his legal career as an advocate in the Balochistan High Court and the Supreme Court before being appointed as the Chief Justice of the Balochistan High Court in 2009. He was elevated to the Supreme Court in 2014. Recently, Justice Isa has gained attention for his protest against the non-implementation of the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Act. As a form of protest, he has refrained from hearing any cases for the past five months and has chosen to work in his chambers instead. With his appointment as the Chief Justice, Justice Isa will face the challenging task of restoring the credibility and efficiency of the judicial system in Pakistan.