ISLAMABAD, Jan 9: Justice Chaudhry Mohammad Arif, a judge of the Supreme Court, who retired on Monday will soon proceed to Gambia to take over as the chief justice of the African country.

Justice Arif, who reached the age of superannuation on Monday, had remained as federal law secretary in 1995-96, before elevation to the Supreme Court in 1997.

Chief Justice Bashir Jehangiri in his speech on the eve of reference which was held in camera, said that former CJ Irshad Hasan Khan had informed him that Justice Arif had been selected for appointment as chief justice of Gambia. “We fervently hope that he will soon assume the charge of the exalted office.”

The tradition of holding full court reference at the eve of retirement of judges from the apex court, has been abandoned after the judges took under the PCO. The reference provides an opportunity to the Bar leaders to criticize the judgments of the retiring judge.

Justice Arif, however, was given internal court reference in which only judges of the Supreme Court participated.