Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, on Saturday, was sworn in as the 25th chief justice of Pakistan.

Justice Nisar takes over from retiring Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, whose 15 month tenure came to an end on December 30.

The oath taking ceremony for Justice Nisar’s appointment was held in the federal capital, with President Mamnoon Hussain administering the oath to the incoming chief.

The ceremony was attended by major members of the administration, including Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, cabinet members, the other justices of the Supreme Court along with the services chiefs.

The government, on December 7 had issued a notification through the Law Ministry announcing the appointment of Justice Nisar to the most important position in the judiciary. In the notification President Hussain had stated that the appointment would take effect from December 31, under clause 3 of Article 175 of the constitution, read with Article 177.

The speed of the decision taken by the government took the public by surprise, with the announcement over top positions in the country’s administration normally taking time.

Justice Nisar, who will remain in the position for the next two years, has recently had to fend off allegations of his connections with the current government.