ISLAMABAD – Supreme Court judge, Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan is going to retirefrom judicial services on 6th of May, bringing an end to a glorious era.

Justice Afzal had announced the verdict regarding the disqualification offormer prime minister Nawaz Sharif on 28 July 2017.

He was appointed as Peshawar High Court judge in September 2000 duringPervez Musharraf’s era but he was the only judge of the PHC who did nottake oath under the November 3, 2007 Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO).

He was among the few judges who were restored along with former chiefjustice Iftikhar Chaudhry on March 16, 2009, after a successful movementto restore judges led by Nawaz Sharif.

The senior lawyer had served as PHC judge for nine years and was appointedPHC chief justice in October 2009 and later elevated as Supreme Court judgeon November 17, 2011.

He was among the few judges who wrote dissenting notes in multiple casesduring the Iftikhar Chaudhry era.

However, he also received criticism due to his July 28, 2017 ruling,wherein he disqualified the ruling prime minister of the country on accountof non-disclosure of his unwithdrawn salary.

Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan was also a member of the judicial commission whichhad rejected Imran Khan’s allegations of rigging in the 2013 polls.

Currently, Justice Ejaz is presiding over a bench which is hearing PML-Nleader Talal Chaudhry’s contempt case.

With the retirement of Justice Afzal, the number of sitting judges in thetop court will reduce to 15 out of the sanctioned strength of 17.