Bilawal Bhutto Reveals Justice Mansoor Ali Shah as Next Chief Justice

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), recently indicated that Justice Mansoor Ali Shah will be the next Chief Justice of Pakistan. During an interview with ARY News, Bilawal praised both the current and incoming Chief Justices for their respected status in Pakistan’s judiciary.

Bilawal voiced his frustrations with the slow judicial system, recalling his family’s 50-year wait for justice in the Zulfikar Bhutto murder case. He called for reforms to ensure that future cases are handled more efficiently and timely verdicts are delivered.

He also spoke about the ongoing discussions around constitutional amendments, stressing that they should not be made without broad consensus. Bilawal pointed out that many previous amendments were either overturned or lost significance. “This is not an ordinary constitutional amendment,” he explained, emphasizing the importance of careful deliberation.

Bilawal praised Justice Qazi Faez Isa for his decision to reduce his own powers, respecting the Parliament’s Practice and Procedure Bill, which reflects a positive step toward judicial reform.

On the issue of military courts for civilians, Bilawal reaffirmed the PPP’s opposition but indicated that he is willing to engage in discussions with the government. He acknowledged the concerns surrounding the military installations attacked earlier this year and mentioned he is open to reconsidering his stance.

Bilawal also aligned with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) on the issue of Article 8, agreeing that any constitutional amendments should be postponed for further discussion.