The decision displeased several government officials.
Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa has opted to decline a government-funded farewell dinner, citing concerns over the estimated cost, which exceeds Rs. 2 million (£5,500).
A formal invitation for a full court reference was sent to the Attorney General, with details outlined in a letter from the Assistant Registrar.
The reference, set for October 25 at 10:30 am, will commemorate Chief Justice Isa’s retirement.
While the Supreme Court Bar had planned a farewell dinner on October 24, the Chief Justice expressed gratitude.
However, he chose to forgo the dinner in light of its financial implications.
The full court reference will see the participation of the President of the Supreme Court Bar Association and several senior lawyers.
Speculation has surrounded Chief Justice Isa’s tenure since March 2024, with rumours suggesting the government may have considered extending his term for stability.
Initial proposals included setting a fixed tenure for the Chief Justice or raising the retirement age for all judges by three years.
These discussions reportedly reached senior judges but faced complications following a recent Supreme Court ruling.
A three-member bench, led by Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, suspended a Peshawar High Court judgment regarding reserved seats.
The decision displeased several government officials.
This ruling contributed to the government’s loss of its two-thirds majority following the Supreme Court’s decision on July 12, 2024.
Notably, Chief Justice Isa has been at the centre of several significant rulings, including reinstating the Election Commission of Pakistan’s decision regarding recounts.
He also presided over a larger bench that altered the interpretation of Article 63A of the Constitution.
Reports suggest that Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa is not interested in extending his tenure.
However, he has remained silent on public matters for the past six months.
He has also requested not to be included in any proposed judicial package, affirming his intention to retire on October 25.
However, the public has not been impressed with the Chief Justice’s act of saving government funds.
In September 2024, he made headlines when a doughnut shop worker apparently misbehaved with him, leading to the worker’s dismissal.
Following his refusal of the farewell dinner, many people took to social media to mock him, drawing unflattering comparisons between the two incidents.
A user wrote: “Bro refused the farewell because he already got the doughnuts shop farewell.”
One said: “Sir, curse be upon you.”
Meanwhile, some are still sceptical, claiming that Chief Justice Isa Faez refused the dinner because he isn’t ready to say farewell just yet.
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