Justice Munib Akhtar Takes Oath as Acting CJP

Justice Munib Akhtar took oath on Monday as the Acting Chief Justice of Pakistan, assuming the top judicial responsibility during the temporary absence of Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, who is currently abroad. The oath-taking ceremony was held at the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s Branch Registry in Karachi.

The development places Justice Munib Akhtar in charge of the country’s highest court for the period of the chief justice’s absence. As the senior-most judge available, he will perform the duties attached to the office of Acting Chief Justice until Chief Justice Afridi returns and resumes charge.

According to the report, the formal ceremony took place in Karachi, where Acting Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui administered the oath. The ceremony was attended by judges of the Supreme Court and the Federal Constitutional Court, senior court officials, the Registrar and members of the legal fraternity.

The Supreme Court confirmed through an official statement that Justice Munib Akhtar’s appointment was linked to Chief Justice Yahya Afridi’s stay abroad. The statement made clear that the acting arrangement is temporary and will remain in place only for the duration of the chief justice’s absence.

Justice Munib Akhtar’s elevation to acting charge is significant because the office of the Chief Justice of Pakistan carries major administrative and judicial responsibilities. The position involves court management, case scheduling, bench-related coordination and oversight of institutional functioning within the Supreme Court.

Such temporary appointments are a regular constitutional and institutional practice when the serving chief justice is unavailable because of foreign travel, leave or other official reasons. The senior-most judge is usually assigned acting responsibilities to ensure continuity in judicial work and administrative decisions.

The oath-taking also comes at a time when Pakistan’s superior judiciary remains under close public and political attention. Key constitutional, governance and rights-related matters frequently reach the Supreme Court, making continuity in leadership important for lawyers, litigants and state institutions.

For Pakistan’s justice system, uninterrupted functioning of the apex court is essential because delays at the highest level can affect cases pending before lower courts, government departments and citizens seeking final legal remedies. The acting arrangement allows the court to continue its work without administrative uncertainty.

The next step will be routine judicial and administrative functioning under Justice Munib Akhtar’s acting charge until Chief Justice Yahya Afridi returns from abroad. The court is expected to continue hearing scheduled matters, managing benches and handling institutional decisions during the interim period.