Justice Munib Akhtar sworn in as acting chief justice

Justice Munib Akhtar, the senior puisne judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, took the oath as acting chief justice on Wednesday, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported.

The oath was administered by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar at a ceremony at the Supreme Court of Pakistan in Islamabad. APP described the ceremony as simple and dignified. Justice Akhtar will perform the functions of chief justice in an acting capacity.

The report did not state why the acting arrangement had been made, or how long it was expected to remain in place. Acting appointments to the office are made when the chief justice is absent or is otherwise unable to carry out the duties of the post; the senior puisne judge, the most senior judge of the court after the chief justice, normally steps into the role.

APP gave no further details of the ceremony, including which other judges or court officials attended, and did not carry any remarks from Justice Akhtar or from the government.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan sits at the top of the country's judicial hierarchy, with appeal jurisdiction over the high courts of all four provinces, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir, and with original jurisdiction in disputes between the federation and the provinces. The chief justice also heads the Supreme Judicial Council and exercises administrative control over the subordinate judiciary through the high courts.

No other outlet immediately carried an account of the oath-taking. The Skardu Times could not independently confirm further details of the appointment beyond the APP report.