Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa will retire today (Friday), concluding over a year of service in the role.

The oath-taking ceremony for the new CJP, Justice Yahya Afridi, is scheduled for tomorrow, with President Asif Ali Zardari set to administer the oath.

On Thursday evening, the Supreme Court Bar Association and the Pakistan Bar Council hosted a farewell dinner in honor of the outgoing CJP Qazi Faez Isa. The event was attended by the incoming Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, judges from the Supreme Court, and Chief Justices from all high courts.

Earlier this week, President Asif Ali Zardari formally approved the appointment of Justice Yahya Afridi as the new chief justice following Qazi Faez Isa's retirement today, October 25.

This significant appointment follows the contentious 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill, which introduces a new selection process for the Chief Justice. For the first time, a Special Parliamentary Committee, consisting of representatives from all political parties in parliament, nominated Justice Afridi, achieving a two-thirds majority in their decision.

The committee's recommendation was sent to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who approved it before it reached the president. According to the new provisions, the Chief Justice must be selected from the three most senior judges of the Supreme Court based on the committee’s recommendation.