Justice Yahya Afridi has replaced to become the 30th Chief Justice of Pakistan when the retiring Chief Justice was Justice Qazi Faez Isa. It was a great stride in the way towards the development for Pakistan with the milestone of 26th Constitutional Amendment. An outstanding lawyer, and brilliant jurist with excellent career, focusing at the rule of law and administrator justice, while education and welfare of mankind also holds some special interest for Justice Afridi.
Education Background
Justice Yahya Afridi was born on January 23, 1965. He is an alumnus of the Kohat Frontier Region and hails from the noble Adam Khel branch of the Afridi tribe. His background has influenced him to join public service through a legacy, thus having a sense of duty towards the legal profession.
Justice Yahya Afridi’s early education was done at Aitchison College, one of Pakistan’s most distinguished institutions. He later graduated from Government College Lahore and further finished his Master of Arts in Economics at Punjab University. Sent by academic ambitions, he received a Commonwealth Scholarship to take the LL.M. at the University of Cambridge from Jesus College. Such diverse education only adds more flavor to the legalistic approach that has the understanding of economics, governance, and the legal systems merged into one another.
Career Advancement into Legal Profession
Justice Yahya Afridi entered the legal profession in 1990 by becoming an advocate in the Peshawar High Court. He worked hard for the law and justice and gradually rose through the ranks. By 2004, he was practicing before the Supreme Court of Pakistan. In the meanwhile, he was the Assistant Advocate General for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which gave him an opportunity to contribute directly to the legal structure in his province.
In 2010, a significant twist in Afridi’s life came with the appointment of Afridi as an Additional Judge of Peshawar High Court. Just after two years, he was confirmed permanently as a judge of this high court on March 15, 2012, adding rich judicial expertise to the judiciary of his province. His career saw a new high on 30 December 2016 when he was appointed as Chief Justice of Peshawar High Court and became the first judge from FATA to hold this position.
Supreme Court of Pakistan
Justice Yahya Afridi was elevated to the Supreme Court of Pakistan on 28 June 2018, where his distinguished service and insight into law earned him recognition. Some of the high-profile cases Justice Afridi sat on during his term at the Supreme Court include sitting on the larger bench in the presidential reference related to the execution of former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, one of the landmark cases that are still being discussed in legal and political circles in Pakistan. His dissenting note in a judgment regarding reserved seats in the Sunni Union Council case marked his independence of thought in judicial deliberations and in constitutional interpretation.
The judicial contributions made by Afridi often appear to have an administrative law, governance, and judiciary’s place in public administration focus. His views exhibit a fine balance between rigid legalism and a perspective on public service, which is quite consistent in his judicial career.
Commitment to Education
Justice Afridi demonstrates a lot of commitment to legal education. During his periods of lecturing, he used to teach International Law, Labour Law, and Administrative Law at Khyber Law College, University of Peshawar. He has guided young lawyers who are going to be the torchbearers for justice and governance in the very near future. His academic background meets his judicial philosophy because with theoretical law, he has practical experience while giving judgments.
Family and Personal Life
Justice Yahya Afridi is a man hailing from the Afridi family, who have at all times been energetic and committed towards doing service for their country. He has derived values and energizing motivation for justice from the well-known Afridi connections. His personal life continues to be embraced solidly by his tribal and cultural background as he remains focused on contributing towards Pakistan through his judicial capabilities.
A Vision for Pakistan’s Judiciary
Justice Yahya Afridi, Chief Justice of Pakistan, has the depth of experience in his working tenure in the High Court as well as the Supreme Court. His background as a teacher and legal scholar plus his deep understanding of Pakistan’s judiciary makes him the most valuable asset for Pakistan’s legal framework. His emphasis on administrative law and governance, along with his commitment to justice, places him firmly as a Chief Justice committed to furthering transparency, fairness, and the rule of law in Pakistan.