Justice Asif Saeed Khosa took oath as 26th chief justice of Pakistan on Friday in a ceremony held at the President’s House. His will stay as the country’s supreme judge till December 20, 2019.
The oath was administered by President Arif Alvi and the ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Imran Khan, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Air Staff Aasim Zaheer, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi, National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, Supreme Court judges, senior lawyers and other government officials and ministers. Foreign dignitaries also witnessed the ceremony.
Born in Dera Ghazi Khan on December 21, 1954, Justice Khosa obtained his law degree from the United Kingdom in 1976. Son-in-law of former chief justice Nasim Hassan Shah, Justice Khosa is one of the top jurists on criminal law. In his judicial career spanning over 19 years, he has decided about 55,000 cases, with 10,000 criminal cases decided by him since 2014.
In Justice Khosa’s courtroom, there is no concept of adjournment. After hearing arguments, he dictates and announces orders without reserving verdicts. His brand of speedy justice has allowed dozens to be acquitted and released after decades-long imprisonment.
Justice Khosa was among the Lahore High Court (LHC) judges who refused to take oath under the November 3, 2007, Provisional Constitution Order (PCO). He was elevated to the top court on February 18, 2010.
Published in Daily Times, January 19th 2019.
