Justice Tassaduq Jillani approved as Pakistan's new chief justice

E-Paper | April 29, 2026

ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain on Thursday approved the appointment of Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani as the next chief Justice of Pakistan.

The appointment was approved by the president after receiving Jillani's recommendation from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

An official notification is still pending in this regard and is expected to be issued in a couple of days.

Jillani, who currently serves as the acting chief election commissioner, will take over on Dec 12 from Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry after he retires following an eight-year tenure.

The oath-taking ceremony is expected be held on the morning of Dec 12 at the Presidency in the federal capital.

Asma Jahangir, a human rights activist, lawyer and former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, said she expected the 64-year-old Jillani to be a far quieter presence as compared to his predecessor.

“Jillani will serve as a judge while the present chief justice acts like a politician. Jillani will do what a judge is supposed to do, he has no special agenda,” she told news agency AFP.

“The judiciary under Iftikhar Chaudhry was a one-man show, everything and everybody was under his complete control.”

Jillani has been a Supreme Court judge since 2004 and like Chaudhry was sacked when former military dictator Musharraf imposed emergency rule in November 2007.

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.

Pakistan

6 terrorists killed as attack on Bannu police post thwarted

Law ministry notifies transfer of 3 IHC judges to other high courts

IHC to hear Imran, Bushra's pleas against conviction in £190m corruption reference on April 30

ALI HAIDER

Nov 27, 2013 07:20pm

I cant wait for current CJ to retire. He has truned hustice into joke and has made the seat of justice as a personal platform to self propogate his view. Mr. Iftikhar's departure might bring some much needed change is judiciary. More focus on providing jusctice than settling personal vandettas. Good riddance.

Recommend 0

azmat khan

Nov 27, 2013 09:30pm

Asma is 100 percent right.

Recommend 0

Yawar

Nov 27, 2013 10:01pm

According to Asma Jehangir

Recommend 0

Yawar

Nov 27, 2013 10:01pm

Good riddance

Recommend 0

Guest63

Nov 27, 2013 11:01pm

At last Nawaz Sharif delivered his promise (presenting only 50 % truth ) of Seniority based appointments in Judiciary after side stepping the same rule ( presenting the other 50 % as a Lie ) in the case of Army chief appointment earlier today . Half Truthful , Half Liar ... The truth as a mater of fact is , he feared the SCP more than the Army , if had his desire , he would have also done the same with the CJP appointment and installed his own buddy there too and thus show his true self . as he did with the so called STOP DRONE attack before May 13 election and before he went to see his masters in USA , after his return , he forgot what had promised the nation on that front , which put him in the PM chair ..... He can at least start enjoying his full term , a toothless president , an old friendship based COAS , a non indulging CJP .......... Yousuf Raza Gilani must be envy of Sharif's position ....

Recommend 0

Riazullah Baig

Nov 28, 2013 12:40am

Delivering justice is the most important job in any civilized society. It is very strange to see more comments on the new army chief's appointment than on the Chief Justice of Pakistan. It shows the priorities of Pakistan's national (if there is any national, otherwise it is crowd) fabric.

Recommend 0

BaoJilani

Nov 28, 2013 01:49am

Geo Jilani! I hope he will follow foot steps of Iftikhar Choudhry.

Recommend 0

ali ahmed

Nov 28, 2013 09:01am

I hope new Chief Justice will take more substantial actions and actually bring the perpetrators to book rather than taking suo-moto action without any substantial action against law breakers. As a common Pakistani, I expect his active role in bringing such people to book, whether they are government or not in government actors, who have made the lives of common Pakistani difficult. I wish him success if takes suo-moto actions against hoarders, corrupt government officials, corporate and business cartels, corrupt bureaucrats, unconstitutional and ruthless operations of law-enforcement agencies, and the parties who are directly on indirectly supporting terrorism in Pakistan.

Recommend 0

bkh

Nov 29, 2013 01:51pm

Facial studies indicates good replacement for retiring Chief Justice. Who appeared emotionally frigid to a degree

Recommend 0

Adnan

Nov 30, 2013 02:19am

Fine by me as long as this means fewer suo motos and less meddling in politics.

Recommend 0

Branded Content

Taptap Send, Arshad Nadeem partner to highlight Pakistan’s unsung champions

The initiative comes at a time when cricket continues to dominate national attention, often overshadowing achievements in other sports.

NexGen Auto (Nishat Group) to Introduce iCAUR in Pakistan

As one of Pakistan’s leading business groups, Nishat Group operates across key sectors including textiles, cement, banking, insurance, power and agriculture.