CJP Afridi Declines NOC for Justice Shah’s International Conference Attendance

For the second time, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi has opted not to issue a no-objection certificate (NOC) to Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, preventing his participation in an international conference.

Yale Law School in the United States extended an invitation to Justice Mansoor last month to take part in “Global Constitutionalism 2025,” a conference scheduled from September 10 to 13.

Reportedly, Yale Law School has invited Justice Mansoor to this conference for the past half-decade. The event typically hosts senior judges from various nations, along with distinguished academics from Yale, Harvard, and Princeton universities.

Sources indicate Justice Mansoor was slated to deliver a presentation on artificial intelligence’s role within the judiciary. Yale Law School formally requested CJP’s endorsement of Justice Mansoor’s participation.

Justice Mansoor also directly appealed to the chief justice on August 6. The Supreme Court Registrar’s office informed Yale Law School that the new judicial year commences on September 8 with a full-court session to assess the annual agenda.

The Registrar Office elaborated that this session, alongside crucial institutional activities and dialogues with the legal community, has become a tradition. They emphasized that the presence of all judges at the new judicial year’s opening ceremony is vital for collaborative discussions, prioritization, and shaping the institution’s future course.

Given these factors, the Registrar Office communicated that the Supreme Court could not facilitate Justice Mansoor’s involvement in the conference.

Sources further revealed that Justice Mansoor, in a letter dated August 15, reiterated his request for the NOC from the chief justice, providing justification for its issuance. Previously, in February, Justice Mansoor’s request to attend arbitration events in Saudi Arabia was also turned down, leading to the cancellation of his travel plans.