ISLAMABAD, Jan 31: Chief Justice Mohammad Bashir Jehangiri on Thursday laid robes as the Chief Justice of Pakistan, clearing the way for Justice Sheikh Riaz Ahmad to take oath as the Chief Justice of Pakistan on Friday.

Justice Jehangiri took oath as Chief Justice of Pakistan on Jan 7. He is likely to continue working as the Federal Ombudsman, a post he had been holding for the last two years.

Justice Jehangiri also opted not to get a full court reference and retired after receiving an “in-camera” reference in which only judges of the Supreme Court participated.

During the hearing of a case on Thursday, Justice Jehangiri said he would be a free man from Friday.

He thanked the Supreme Court Bar Association for the attitude it showed towards him particularly at the fag end of his career at the Supreme Court.

The SCBA President, Hamid Ali Khan, congratulated him on the successful completion of his tenure and appreciated his contribution to the judiciary.