Justice Junaid Ghaffar officially assumed office as the new Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday in a ceremony held at a historic Karachi venue—the same location where Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah took his oath as Pakistan’s first Governor-General in 1947. Governor Sindh Kamran Tessori administered the oath, with Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and other high-ranking officials in attendance. This event marked the first time an SHC chief justice’s swearing-in was held at this significant site.
The appointment comes after President Asif Ali Zardari approved the nominations for chief justices of four high courts, following recommendations from the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP). Alongside Justice Ghaffar, Justice Sarfraz Dogar was named Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), Justice SM Attique Shah for the Peshawar High Court (PHC), and Justice Rozi Khan for the Balochistan High Court (BHC).
The Law Ministry has issued formal notifications for all four appointments. Later in the day, President Zardari is expected to administer the oath to Justice Sarfraz Dogar at a separate ceremony in Islamabad. These appointments aim to strengthen the judiciary’s leadership across Pakistan’s provincial and federal high courts.
The JCP’s nominations last week had set the stage for these transitions, ensuring continuity in the judicial system. The selection of such a symbolic venue for Justice Ghaffar’s oath underscores the historical significance of the judiciary’s role in upholding constitutional governance in Pakistan. Legal experts view these appointments as a step toward reinforcing judicial independence and efficiency in the country.