ISLAMABAD, Jan 3: Justice Mohammad Bashir Jehangiri, the senior puisne judge of the Supreme Court was sworn in as Acting Chief Justice of Pakistan here on Thursday, four days prior to his formal taking over as permanent Chief Justice of Pakistan for 22 days.

Chief Justice Irshad Hasan Khan became the Acting President of Pakistan as the president has left the country to attend the Saarc summit in Nepal.

The oath to Justice Jehangiri was administered by Justice Shaikh Riaz Ahmad. The practice of administering oath to the acting president has been abandoned. Justice Irshad Hasan Khan was administered oath as acting president when he first became acting president in April.

Justice Mohammad Bashir Jehangiri will become the permanent chief justice on Jan 7, when the sitting chief justice will reach the age of superannuation.

Justice Jehangiri will also attain the retiring age on Jan 31, clearing the way for Justice Sheikh Riaz Ahmad to head the highest court of the country till March 2003.

The proposed ceremony, holding “Inter Court Reference” by the “brother judges,” was also cancelled. An official of SC, when approached, confirmed that the proposed reference has been cancelled. He, however, refused to elaborate.

The Supreme Court Registrar issued the first press statement after the change of guards, in which Justice Bashir Jehangiri cautioned the public not to believe one Mohammad Tariq Jehangiri.

The SC Registrar stated it had been learnt that Mohammad Tariq Jehangiri, advocate, is misrepresenting himself as a relative of Justice Mohammad Bashir Jehangiri.”This is to clarify that Justice Mohammad Bashir Jehangiri has no relationship with Mohammad Tariq Jehangiri.”