CJP Isa refuses farewell dinner because it will cost approximately two million rupees

The Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa has declined a farewell dinner, a tradition for every outgoing Chief Justice, saying that he cannot accept the event because it will cost approximately “two million rupees” funded by public money.

As per the tradition, the Supreme Court’s registrar’s office sent a note to the Chief Justice regarding the reception planned for his retirement on October 25.

The CJP underscored that such an event in his honour was unnecessary, making this the first time in the Supreme Court’s history that no farewell reception has been held for a retiring judge.

Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, the next senior judge, will become the next Chief Justice, although the government has yet to notify him.

A full court reference has also been scheduled for October 25, where Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa will officially step down, according to an official letter issued by the court’s registrar to Supreme Court Bar Association President Shahzad Shaukat yesterday.