Justice Munib Akhtar officially took the oath as Acting Chief Justice of Pakistan on Thursday. The formal swearing-in ceremony took place at the Supreme Court building in Islamabad. Senior Supreme Court judge Justice Jamal Mandokhail administered the oath during the official judicial ceremony. Furthermore, several esteemed judges and senior court officials attended the event to witness the oath-taking. Consequently, Justice Munib Akhtar will lead the country’s highest court during the Chief Justice’s absence.
The temporary appointment became necessary due to Chief Justice Yahya Afridi’s private travel to England. Chief Justice Afridi departed for his foreign visit and will return to Pakistan on October twenty-first. Furthermore, President Asif Ali Zardari previously approved the necessary leave for the Chief Justice’s official foreign trips. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif advised the President to grant formal security clearance for these foreign visits. Therefore, routine judicial administration will continue uninterrupted under the leadership of the Acting Chief Justice.
Chief Justice Yahya Afridi has planned multiple international visits during October and November of this year. His scheduled travel includes trips to the United Kingdom, South Korea, and Japan. Specifically, he will remain abroad from October fourteenth through twenty-first for his current trip. Later this month, he will undertake a second international trip starting October twenty-seventh. Thus, senior judges will step into acting administrative roles whenever the Chief Justice travels abroad.
The Supreme Court ensures smooth operational continuity during period changes in top judicial leadership. Acting Chief Justice Munib Akhtar will manage daily administrative duties and oversee pending legal matters. Legal experts note that routine constitutional functions continue seamlessly under established judicial protocols. Meanwhile, court staff members confirmed that scheduled hearings will proceed without any unexpected operational delays. Consequently, the judicial branch maintains stability while senior leaders fulfill foreign commitments.
Ultimately, this transition highlights the structured procedures within Pakistan’s highest constitutional court. The judiciary continues its regular duties to deliver timely justice to citizens across the nation. Moreover, smooth temporary handovers help maintain institutional confidence and constitutional continuity at all times. Citizens and legal practitioners expect standard court schedules to remain on track during this period. Moving forward, Chief Justice Yahya Afridi will resume his duties upon returning home next week.