” Kisne kaha ki toot gaya khanjar-e-qazi ?
Hai ab khiza chaman mein naye pairahan ke saath”
Pakistanis are celebrating the departure of that toady of the Pakistan Establishment, former Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa.
But they little realise that that the new CJP, Yahya Afridi, is likely to prove himself soon to be in essence another Qazi Faez Isa, though in a different garb. This is borne out by two facts :
(1) He was appointed as CJP superseding two judges senior to him, Justices Mansur Ali Shah and Munib Akhtar, both of whom had a high reputation for their independence, fairness, and integrity. There was no reason for superseding them, and this gives an impression that a deal was struck between the Pakistan Establishment and Yahya Afridi
(2) There is no indication that Yahya Afridi will ever order, or allow to be ordered, release of Imran Khan, or the 14,000 persons arrested on trumped up charges after the events of 9th May 2023, and still rotting in jail in inhuman conditions for over an year.
Justice Yahya Afridi taking oath as new Chief Justice of Pakistan
Nor is there any indication that he will order fresh free and fair elections in Pakistan (in view of the fact that the elections held on 8th February 2024 were clearly rigged).
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The much publicised meeting of the Full Court of the Supreme Court held yesterday was only a farce, a much ado about nothing. It only discussed the pendency of 59,000 cases in the Court, but with no real solution. And the real issue of release of Imran Khan and the other prisoners mentioned above, was not even touched upon.
Former CJP Qazi Faez Isa
The restoration of Justices Mansur Ali Shah and Munib Akhtar on the committee for constituting benches was just a diversionary measure, and reveals that Yahya Afridi is much more crafty than his predecessor.
While Qazi Faez Isa was a wolf in a wolf skin, and hence could easily be recognised as a wolf, Yahya Afridi is a wolf in sheep skin, pretending to be independent and liberal, and hence not easily recognizable as a wolf.
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However, the people of Pakistan will soon get to know the truth, and start giving ‘Laanat Donuts’ to Yahya Afridi, just as they gave them to his predecessor. 
Markandey Katju
Justice Markandey Katju is former Judge, Supreme Court of India and former Chairman, Press Council of India.
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