Yahya Afridi, will be soon sworn in as the 30th Chief Justice of Pakistan on 26th November 2024, in one of the most difficult and challenging environments. His appointment has sparked curiosity about this quiet and media shy personality, who leads a simple life with his old Nokia mobile set that keeps him connected to the outside world. A simple soul simply dedicated to his own job.
Sardar Abdul Majeed, both mercurial and suspicious by nature, rarely praises someone , shared some background information about Justice Yahya’s illustrious family, especially his uncle Anwar Afridi, who remained IG Punjab and whom he praised for his impressive persona as police officer.
Read More: Justice Yahya Afridi to be Sworn in as CJP on October 25
In early 90s, with a bedraggled appearance, a shaven head, and wearing a Chitrali pakol, I looked more like a suspect myself to Majeed than an undercover officer, fighting crime on the streets of Karachi . That was my first meeting with this cousin of mine at Kala Kot, the criminal hub of gang warfare of Lyari, where he was posted as ASP . The daredevil Majeed once fired a burst of automatic fire straight into his own house door when dacoits held his family hostage.
Ever since, we have stayed in regular contact, though the British ensured our family was divided, just as sadly our nation is divided today, leading to numerous challenges , with the trust deficit being the foremost, as the gulf widens between common citizens and those who rule them day- by – day.
I had to verify the information with Honourable Prince Dr. Mahmoud Aurangzeb, Dean of Khyber Medical College, who is a family friend to Justice Yayha. Both opinions from two different family sources converged on one point: the new rider of the judicial horse is a well-groomed individual, a stroke of luck for the country at a time when the judicial horse itself is mired in controversy, and no one knows in whose hands the reins remain.
He is the proud son of an illustrious father, Umer Khan Afridi, a recipient of the Sword of Honour at the Pakistan Military Academy commissioned in probyn horse, an elite armoured unit before joining the civil service in 60s. His father served as Chief Secretary and Interior Secretary, and his grandfather, Dr. Munawar Khan Afridi remained as DG health and also played a key role in the founding of the prestigious Khyber Medical College.
It is by sheer coincidence that the family hails from Babri Banda, erstwhile Kohat Frontier Region, from where my first Officer Commanding, Lt. Col. Khurshid Afridi (ex-SSG), belonged. The late Col. Khurshid was a daring officer who remained at the vanguard of anti-insurgency operations in Karachi and commanded the “Field Intelligence Unit”, when the military operation in Karachi was launched. Unfortunately, he met a tragic end after his political masters betrayed him, despite his successful eradication of sectarian violence in Punjab. As a reward, he was imprisoned for life and had to sell all his assets to secure his freedom before he died heartbroken.
Once mounted and firmly in the saddle as the new Chief Justice, it is highly desired that the persona of the new Chief Justice not be made controversial. He had zero role in the promulgation of the 26th Amendment, and now, there is a dire need for zero interference in judicial matters—both overt and covert—if the lost glory of the judiciary is to be restored.
Too many riders on the judicial horse have made Pakistan lose its direction, as there is no neutral and apolitical forum to which the nation can turn to address their genuine grievances. Justice Afridi is a silver bullet, and he should be spared from being misfired like his predecessors, who all met sad ends.Long Live Pakistan.
