Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar stated on Saturday that Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa has expressed he is “not interested” in extending his tenure as the top judge.
The law minister noted that after a meeting of the judicial commission, CJP Isa, in the presence of the attorney general, communicated his lack of interest in an extension due to circulating rumors. Tarar reassured him that no such plans were in place, which Isa appreciated.
Additionally, Tarar mentioned that discussions on pension reforms are ongoing, which include a proposal to increase the retirement age by two years across all sectors. He recalled that when considering this increase, there was a suggestion to include judges as well, although he did not specify who made that suggestion.
He emphasized that a constitutional amendment would be required to implement this change, but clarified that it does not imply a desire to grant extensions. Tarar highlighted that public opinion favors raising the retirement age to 62 to alleviate economic pressure and retain experienced professionals.
CJP Isa, who took office as the 29th chief justice on September 17, 2023, is scheduled to retire on October 25, 2024, making his tenure relatively short.
