Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa has officially retired from the highest judicial office, bringing to a close a career marked by landmark rulings and a commitment to judicial transparency.

Appointed to the Supreme Court on September 5, 2014, Justice Isa’s legacy includes numerous high-profile cases and decisions.

Justice Isa assumed the position of chief Justice on September 17, 2023. Known for championing transparency, he was the first to initiate live broadcasts of public interest cases, a move that garnered widespread support.

Justice Isa presided over pivotal cases, including the Faizabad dharna case, where his ruling underscored the importance of constitutional rights to assembly while balancing state responsibilities. He also chaired the Memogate and Quetta commission investigations.

One of Justice Isa’s most notable rulings was declaring that the execution of former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was illegal. He also upheld the conviction of former president Pervez Musharraf in a high treason case.

Justice Isa also supported the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to nullify the PTI’s intra-party elections. He partially dissented in the reserved seats case of the PTI and Sunni Ittehad Council.

During the PTI government, Justice Isa faced and ultimately triumphed over a presidential reference filed against him.

Full court reference

On Friday, the outgoing chief justice addressed a farewell full court reference held in his honour, reflecting on his 42 years of marriage and professional life while emphasizing the significant strides made in Balochistan's judiciary under his leadership.

In his speech, Justice Isa expressed gratitude, stating, “Thankfully, my wife is there. If I had told her that someone praised me, she would not have believed.”

He also advised chief justice-designate Yahya Afridi, narrating a letter from a litigant who received justice from the Justice Isa's court, that he should be careful while delivering justice to complainants. "Zara dheyan say," he said while addressing Justice Afridi.

However, several judges, including Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Ayesha Malik, Justice Malik Shahzad, and Justice Athar Minallah, did not participate in the reference.

The farewell event was attended by nominated chief justice Yahya Afridi, other Supreme Court judges, lawyers, court staff, and journalists.

Oath as CJP

Justice Isa took oath as the chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) on September 17, 2023 at a ceremony at the President House. The senior-most judge of the Supreme Court was administered the oath by former president Arif Alvi, as caretaker prime minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar also joined them on stage.

Justice Isa's wife, Sarina, stood beside him as he took the oath as the new CJP. High-ranking government and military officials, including army chief Gen Syed Asim Munir, federal ministers, senators, foreign ambassadors, former chief justices of the country and other dignitaries witnessed the oath-taking ceremony.

Also Read: Profile: Who is new CJP Justice Qazi Faez Isa?

The transition followed the departure of Justice Umar Ata Bandial, who served in the highest judicial office for over 19 months, having been appointed on February 2, 2022. Justice Isa's term as chief justice of Pakistan lasted for over a year till October 25.

His journey to this esteemed position began when he was initially sworn in as a Supreme Court judge on September 5, 2014.

Who is Qazi Faez Isa?

Justice Isa was the senior-most judge of the top court after outgoing CJP Umar Ata Bandial. He was the second CJP from Balochistan after Iftikhar Chaudhary.

Justice Isa was born on October 26, 1959, in Quetta. His father, Qazi Muhammad Isa, was a leading member of the movement for the establishment of Pakistan and a close associate of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Justice Isa completed his primary education in Quetta and his A and O levels at Karachi Grammar School. He then went to London to study law, where he completed the bar professional examination.

Justice Isa was registered as an advocate in the Balochistan High Court (BHC) on January 30, 1985, and became an advocate of the SC in March 1998.

He practised law in the BHC and the SC for over 27 years before being appointed as the chief justice of the BHC in 2009.

The jurist served as chief justice of the high court from 2009 to 2014 and was elevated to the SC in 2014.

Following the declaration of a state of emergency in the country on November 3, 2007, the judge made a principled decision. He chose not to appear before judges who he believed had violated their oath.

During the same period, the apex court nullified the decision made on November 3 and the then-judges of the BHC resigned in protest.

Fast-forward to August 5, 2009, Justice Isa assumed the position of judge and later chief justice of the BHC. Subsequently, on September 5, 2014, he took the oath as an SC jurist.

Recently, Justice Isa has been at the centre of attention due to his protest against the non-implementation of the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Act, which was created during the Shehbaz Sharif era.

As an act of protest, he has refrained from hearing any cases for the past five months and opted to work in his chambers instead.