There is a strong possibility that Justice Mansoor Ali Shah may assume the role of Chief Justice of Pakistan for a term of up to three years following the resignation of his colleague, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, who would have succeeded CJP Qazi Faez Isa.
Justice Ahsan’s resignation followed the path of Justice Mazahir Naqvi, who stepped down as an SC judge a day earlier due to a Supreme Judicial Council inquiry into alleged misconduct. A show-cause notice for Naqvi was issued in October of the previous year.
Justice Ahsan, the third most senior judge after Justice Sardar Tariq Masood, would have served as the 30th CJP until August 4, 2025. He played a significant role in various benches formed by former CJP Umar Ata Bandial, including the suspension of the Election Commission of Pakistan’s order on the transfer of Ghulam Dogar, a pro-PTI officer. He was also involved in the bench that heard the Panama case, ordering the formation of a JIT to investigate the corruption allegations against the Sharif family.
After Justice Ahsan’s resignation, Justice Shah is poised to become the next CJP on August 4, 2024, serving until November 27, 2027. Like Ahsan, he was elevated from the Lahore High Court. Justice Shah’s areas of expertise include constitutional law, human rights, climate and water justice, environmental sustainability, disability rights, criminology, digital surveillance, privacy, and proportionality, as stated in his SC bio.
Notably, Justice Shah played a role in establishing e-courts by video linking the principal seat of the SC with all provincial registries before the Covid-19 pandemic, a measure that proved exceptionally useful during the global health crisis.
