KARACHI/ISLAMABAD: Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori administered the oath to Caretaker Chief Minister Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar.
The outgoing Chief Minister, Murad Ali Shah, along with his cabinet members, also attended the oath-taking ceremony.
Before participating in the oath-taking event, the former chief minister received a guard of honor as he departed from the provincial chief executive’s residence.
Earlier this week, after extensive deliberations, the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in the province and the leader of the opposition of the dissolved assembly, Rana Ansar is representing the Mutahidda Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), reached an agreement to appoint Justice (retd) Baqar as the interim Sindh chief minister.
Justice (retd) Baqar previously served as a senior judge at the Supreme Court of Pakistan after his elevation from the position of Sindh High Court chief justice on February 17, 2015. He was appointed as the top provincial judge of Sindh in September 2013 and retired from the apex court in April 2022.
His commendable work as a courageous and skilled jurist received recognition, especially following a targeted attack by a terrorist group due to his judicial rulings against terrorists.
Justice (retd) Baqar noted for his critical views on the judiciary
Justice (retd) Baqar was also famous for his critical views on the judiciary. After his retirement in April 2022, he publicly highlighted significant shortcomings in the country’s judicial system.
Born on April 5, 1957, the senior Supreme Court judge initiated his legal career by enrolling as an advocate in May 1981 upon completing his LLB from the University of Karachi. He was known as an additional judge of the Sindh High Court (SHC) on August 26, 2002. Subsequently honored as an SHC judge the following year.
While serving at the SHC, Justice Baqar’s rulings in terrorism cases provoked the ire of terrorist organizations, leading to a bomb explosion targeting him by Lashkar-e-Jhangvi terrorists on June 26, 2013, in Karachi. The attack resulted in injuries to him and law enforcement personnel. After undergoing rehabilitative surgery for several months, he resumed his judicial duties.
