On Saturday, Justice Munib Akhtar of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, the second most senior judge, assumed the role of acting chief justice. The oath was administered by Justice Yahya Afridi in a modest ceremony held at the apex court in Islamabad.
According to an official statement, Justice Akhtar will fulfill the responsibilities of acting CJP during the absence of Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa and senior puisne judge Justice Mansoor Ali Shah. Currently, CJP Isa is abroad.
The ceremony was attended by judges of the apex court, as well as representatives from the Pakistan Bar Council and Supreme Court Bar Association. The proceedings were overseen by SC Registrar Jazeela Aslam, with officers and staff from the court also in attendance.
Born in 1963, Justice Akhtar received his early education at Aitchison College. He obtained a BA from Government College University, Lahore in 1983, and completed his thesis titled “Pakistan and South Korea 1947-1970 — A Comparative Analysis of Economic Development” at Princeton University in 1986. He then earned his LLB from Punjab University Law College in 1989.
Beginning his legal career in 1990 as an advocate in subordinate courts, Justice Akhtar was enrolled at the Sindh High Court in 1992 and subsequently at the Supreme Court of Pakistan in 2009.
