Justice Mansoor Ali Shah Sworn in as Acting Chief Justice of Pakistan
Justice Mansoor Ali Shah took oath as the acting Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) on Monday, stepping in during the official overseas visit of incumbent Chief Justice Yahya Afridi.
Oath Administered by Justice Munib Akhtar
The swearing-in ceremony was held at the Supreme Court, where Justice Munib Akhtar, the senior-most judge, administered the oath. The event was attended by fellow justices of the apex court, the Attorney General, law officers, and prominent members of the legal fraternity.
Justice Shah will serve as acting CJP while Chief Justice Afridi travels abroad for official judicial engagements.
CJP Afridi to Lead Delegation at SCO Judicial Conference
Chief Justice Yahya Afridi is leading a distinguished Pakistani delegation to the 20th Conference of Chief Justices of Supreme Courts of SCO Member States, scheduled from April 22 to 26 in Hangzhou, China.
The delegation includes Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, Justice Shahid Waheed, and two representatives from Pakistan’s district judiciary: Zafar Jan, District and Sessions Judge Gwadar, andNadia Gul Wazir, Senior Civil Judge Lakki Marwat.
Their inclusion highlights the Supreme Court’s focus on inclusivity and representation from remote judicial districts, aligning with Justice Afridi’s commitment to a decentralized and accessible judicial system.
MoU on Judicial Cooperation With China
During the visit, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is expected to be signed between the Supreme Court of Pakistan and the Supreme People’s Court of China. The MoU aims to:
– Establish institutional judicial linkages
– Promote knowledge-sharing on key legal topics such as international commercial law, cybercrime, arbitration, and climate litigation
– Enhance collaboration in the recognition and enforcement of judicial decisions
– Advance judicial technology integration and mutual legal assistance in civil matters
This agreement underscores the two nations’ shared commitment to judicial independence, cooperation, and adherence to the rule of law.
AI and the Future of Judicial Innovation
As part of the conference proceedings, Justice Shahid Waheed will deliver a keynote address titled “Judicial Application of Artificial Intelligence.” The speech will highlight Pakistan’s adoption of emerging technologies to improve judicial efficiency, including:
– AI-assisted legal drafting (in collaboration with ETH Zurich)
– AI-based legal research
– Court record digitization
– Predictive analytics for case outcomes
Justice Waheed is also expected to discuss the establishment of an *AI Ethics Committee* within the Supreme Court to ensure responsible, transparent, and ethical implementation of AI in the judiciary.
Strengthening International Judicial Ties
Chief Justice Afridi is also scheduled to hold bilateral talks with his Iranian counterpart to explore further avenues for judicial cooperation. Following the SCO conference, he will travel to Türkiye to attend the *63rd Anniversary celebrations of the Turkish Constitutional Court* at the invitation of President Kadir Özkaya.
These engagements are expected to enhance Pakistan’s role in international legal forums and promote greater judicial collaboration with regional and global partners.
