Justice Munib Akhtar Takes Oath as Acting Chief Justice of Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Justice Munib Akhtar, the Senior Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, took oath as Acting Chief Justice of the Supreme Court on Thursday. The ceremony took place at the Supreme Court in Islamabad.
Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail administered the oath to Justice Akhtar. Judges of the Supreme Court, the Director General of the Federal Judicial Academy, the Secretary of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan, the Secretary of the Supreme Judicial Council, and senior law officers attended the ceremony.
Justice Akhtar will act as Chief Justice while Chief Justice Yahya Afridi remains abroad. CJP Afridi is on a private visit to England and is expected to return on October 21, after which he will resume his duties.
A simple and dignified ceremony
The oath-taking took place in a simple and dignified ceremony at the apex court, according to a statement from the Supreme Court. The Registrar of the Supreme Court conducted the proceedings.
Officers and staff of the Supreme Court were also present on the occasion. Justice Akhtar will now oversee the administrative and judicial affairs of the top court during the chief justice’s absence.
What a Senior Puisne Judge is
The term “Senior Puisne Judge” describes the most senior judge of the Supreme Court after the Chief Justice. “Puisne” (pronounced “pyoo-nee”) simply means junior in rank to the chief justice.
When the office of the Chief Justice falls vacant, or the chief justice is absent or unable to perform his functions, the established constitutional practice in Pakistan is for the most senior among the other judges to step in as Acting Chief Justice. This is how Justice Akhtar, as the senior-most puisne judge, assumed the acting charge while Justice Afridi is abroad.
The arrangement keeps the court running without interruption. The Acting Chief Justice exercises the administrative powers of the office, including the formation of benches and the management of day-to-day affairs, until the chief justice returns.
Why the arrangement matters
An absence of the chief justice, even a brief one, does not slow the Supreme Court’s work. Thousands of cases sit on the court’s roster at any given time. The acting chief justice ensures that benches continue to hear cases and that the institution’s administrative machinery keeps moving.
Justice Akhtar’s acting tenure is expected to last around a week, covering the period until October 21. Such temporary arrangements are routine in the judiciary and have been followed for decades whenever a chief justice travels abroad, as reported by The Tribune.
Context
The ceremony brought together senior members of the judicial establishment. The presence of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan secretary and the Supreme Judicial Council secretary underlined the institutional significance of the oath.
The Supreme Court remains one of Pakistan’s busiest courts. In recent months it has delivered notable rulings, including decisions on family law and the dismissal of high-profile appeals. With the Federal Constitutional Court also hearing major matters, such as its rulings on review petitions, continuity of judicial leadership carries real weight for litigants waiting on their cases.
For now, the top office of the judiciary rests with Justice Akhtar until Afridi’s return next week.
FAQs
Who took oath as Acting Chief Justice of Pakistan?
Justice Munib Akhtar, the Senior Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, took oath as Acting Chief Justice on Thursday, October 15, 2026. Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail administered the oath.
Why was an Acting Chief Justice appointed?
Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi is on a private visit to England. Under established practice, the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court assumes the acting charge of the chief justice’s office during the incumbent’s absence.
When will the Chief Justice return?
Chief Justice Yahya Afridi is expected to return from his private visit to England on October 21, 2026. Justice Munib Akhtar will perform the duties of Acting Chief Justice until then.
What does a Senior Puisne Judge mean?
The Senior Puisne Judge is the most senior judge of the Supreme Court after the Chief Justice. By constitutional practice, this judge steps in as Acting Chief Justice whenever the chief justice’s office falls vacant or the chief justice is absent.
Where was the oath ceremony held?
The oath-taking ceremony was held at the Supreme Court of Pakistan in Islamabad, attended by fellow Supreme Court judges, the Federal Judicial Academy chief, judicial commission officials, and law officers.
