Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa is set to retire, and in his honour, a full court reference will be held on October 25.
The reference will take place at 10:30am, according to an official circular issued by the Registrar's Office of the Supreme Court.
The full court reference is a customary practice to pay tribute to the outgoing chief justice for his contributions to the judiciary and legal fraternity. It is expected to be attended by senior judges, lawyers, and officials, marking the end of Justice Qazi Faez Isa's tenure.
Registrar Jazila Saleem has also informed the president of the Supreme Court Bar Association about the reference through a letter. She has asked for a copy of the president's speech at the reference.
Justice Qazi Faez Isa was sworn in as the 29th chief justice of Pakistan on September 17, 2023. The oath of office was administered by former president Arif Alvi during a ceremony held at Aiwan-i-Sadr in Islamabad. The event was attended by caretaker prime minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar, Chief of Army Staff Ge Asim Munir, and all judges of the Supreme Court. Former chief justices Iftikhar Chaudhry and Tassaduq Hussain Jillani were also present.
Who is Qazi Faez Isa?
Born in Quetta on October 26, 1959, Justice Qazi Faez Isa is the son of the late Qazi Mohammad Isa of Pishin, a prominent figure in the Pakistan Movement and a close associate of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. His father was the first person from Balochistan to earn a Bar-at-Law degree and played a key role in establishing the All India Muslim League in the region. He also served as Balochistan's sole member on the Central Working Committee of the All India Muslim League.
Justice Isa’s mother, Begum Saida Isa, was a dedicated social worker who served in honorary roles on the boards of hospitals and charitable organizations, focusing on education, children's welfare, and women's health.
Justice Isa completed his primary and secondary education in Quetta before moving to Karachi, where he attended Karachi Grammar School for his 'O' and 'A' levels. He then pursued law in London, completing his Bar Professional Examination at the Inns of Court School of Law.
He was enrolled as an Advocate of the Balochistan High Court on January 30, 1985, and later as an Advocate of the Supreme Court in March 1998. Over his 27-year legal career, Justice Isa practised extensively before the High Courts, Federal Shariat Court, and the Supreme Court of Pakistan. He is a member of the Balochistan and Sindh High Court Bar Associations and a Life Member of the Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan. Additionally, he served as amicus curiae in complex cases and engaged in international arbitration.
Justice Qazi Faez Isa was appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan on September 5, 2014.
