Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa retired today, and a full court reference was held at the Supreme Court to honor him. His wife, Sarina Isa, and family members attended the farewell event.
Senior figures, including Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan and lawyer Farooq H Naek, praised CJP Isa for his contributions. Justice Yahya Afridi, who will succeed him, also spoke highly of the outgoing chief justice.
In his speech, CJP Isa reflected on how his life changed dramatically when he became the Chief Justice of Balochistan. He noted that he took the role at a time when the region had no judges.
Justice Afridi, in his address, called CJP Isa "one of the best human beings" he had known and expressed how much he learned from him. He emphasized that CJP Isa would be greatly missed in the Supreme Court, sharing that they often disagreed but that CJP Isa always listened with an open heart.
Justice Afridi humorously recounted that while CJP Isa was kind, he also had a fierce side. He joked that anyone who provoked him would quickly feel his anger, sharing his own experiences of facing CJP Isa’s ire. This light-hearted comment drew laughter from the audience, including CJP Isa himself.
Justice Afridi also emphasized the importance of empowering local governments and upholding the rule of law. He highlighted the need to focus on the district judiciary in remote areas as a priority for his upcoming term.