Pakistan Studies

NADRA stands for National Database and Registration Authority, which is the official government agency responsible for maintaining the national database and issuing identity documents in Pakistan.

As of 2026, Justice Yahya Afridi is serving as the Chief Justice of Pakistan. He took oath as the 30th Chief Justice of Pakistan on October 26, 2024, and will serve until October 26, 2027. Therefore, the current Chief Justice in 2026 is the 30th Chief Justice overall, not the 31st.

The Chief Justice of Pakistan presides over constitutional benches and important cases in the Supreme Court, rather than all cases or only criminal or civil cases. This role includes leading benches that decide significant constitutional matters.

The current Chief Justice of Pakistan, as of 2024, is Umar Ata Bandial, who hails from Punjab province. Therefore, Punjab is the correct answer.

In his New Year message for 2026, Chief Justice Yahya Afridi emphasized judicial reforms and transparency. He highlighted the judiciary's commitment to pursuing meaningful reforms aimed at improving accessibility, reducing delays, strengthening transparency, and responsibly leveraging technology. His message focused on making justice accessible in practice, dignified in process, and responsive to the needs of marginalized groups, aligning with his known priorities in judicial leadership.

The current Chief Justice of Pakistan has emphasized reforms primarily in case management and the use of technology to improve judicial efficiency and reduce delays. This focus aligns with ongoing judicial modernization efforts.

Justice Yahya Afridi was born on 23 January 1965, as confirmed by the official profile on the Peshawar High Court website and multiple authoritative sources. This matches option B exactly. The other dates do not correspond to his birth date. The extensive search confirms the accuracy of the original answer and explanation.

The principal seat of the Supreme Court of Pakistan is located in Islamabad, the capital city, where the main judicial activities and hearings take place.

Justice Umar Ata Bandial was succeeded as Chief Justice of Pakistan by Justice Qazi Faez Isa. He took oath as the Chief Justice after Bandial's retirement, making option A correct.

The 1973 Constitution of Pakistan was effectively restored to its original shape during the tenure of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. This restoration followed the Lawyers' Movement which began after the suspension of the judiciary by General Pervez Musharraf in 2007. The movement led to the reinstatement of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry in 2009 and the re-establishment of the constitutional order. Subsequent reforms, including the 18th Amendment, further entrenched the supremacy of the 1973 Constitution. Other options such as Chief Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Munir were not involved in this restoration, and the option 'Several Chief Justices' is too vague and inaccurate for this specific event.

The Chief Justice of Pakistan is appointed by the President of Pakistan, as per the Constitution. The other options do not have the authority to appoint the Chief Justice.

As of May 2026, Justice Yahya Afridi is the Chief Justice of Pakistan. He took oath as the 30th Chief Justice on October 26, 2024, and is expected to serve a three-year term until October 26, 2027. This is confirmed by multiple reliable sources including Dawn and Arab News. The other options, including Qazi Faez Isa, Umar Ata Bandial, and Mansoor Ali Shah, are former or other justices but not the current Chief Justice at that time.

As of May 2026, the Chief Justice of Pakistan is Justice Yahya Afridi. He took oath as the 30th Chief Justice on October 26, 2024, and is expected to serve a three-year term until October 26, 2027. Therefore, the previously stated answer, Qazi Faez Isa, who was Chief Justice before Yahya Afridi, is no longer the current Chief Justice by May 2026.

The current Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Umar Ata Bandial, was elevated to the Supreme Court in 2020. This is a key career milestone relevant to his judicial service.

Article 175A of the Constitution of Pakistan specifically deals with the appointment of the Chief Justice and other judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts. The other articles listed do not pertain to judicial appointments.

Justice Yahya Afridi took oath as Chief Justice at the Supreme Court Building, which is the official venue for such judicial ceremonies in Pakistan.

Sir Abdul Rashid served as the Chief Justice of Pakistan from 1954 to 1960, making option A the correct answer. The other options do not correspond to his tenure.

In Pakistan, the appointment of a Chief Justice is primarily made on the recommendation of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan, which is the constitutional body responsible for judicial appointments. The Parliamentary Committee reviews the recommendations but does not directly recommend appointments, so option B is the most accurate.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan was established in 1956 following the adoption of Pakistan's first constitution. This marked the formal creation of the Supreme Court as the highest judicial authority in the country.

Justice Yahya Afridi completed his legal education at the University of Cambridge, which is well-known for its law program. This is a verified fact about his educational background.

The Supreme Judicial Council of Pakistan is headed by the Chief Justice of Pakistan, who presides over the council responsible for the oversight of judges' conduct.

The Chief Justice of Pakistan is the chief judge of the Supreme Court and serves as the head of the country's judicial branch. While the Chief Justice presides over the Supreme Court and leads the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (which is involved in judicial appointments), the Chief Justice is not the head of the Election Commission or the Federal Shariat Court. The Chief Justice also does not directly head all High Courts, but as the senior-most judicial authority, the Chief Justice has significant influence over the judiciary including the High Courts through the Judicial Commission. Therefore, among the given options, 'All High Courts' is the closest correct answer, as the Chief Justice has a leading role in the superior judiciary including the High Courts through institutional mechanisms.

The Supreme Judicial Council in Pakistan is composed of the Chief Justice of Pakistan, the two next most senior judges of the Supreme Court, and the two most senior Chief Justices of the High Courts, effectively including both senior judges and High Court Chief Justices as per law. Hence, option A correctly summarizes this composition.

The official residence and office of the Chief Justice of Pakistan is located in Islamabad, which is the capital city and the seat of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

Justice Yahya Afridi assumed the office of Chief Justice of Pakistan on 26 October 2023, making option D the correct answer.