ISLAMABAD, Jan 23: The president on Wednesday notified the appointment of Justice Sheikh Riaz Ahmad, the senior most judge of the Supreme Court, as the chief justice from Feb 1.

Chief Justice Mohammad Bashir Jehangiri will reach the age of superannuation on Jan 31 after serving for three weeks. Justice Riaz will be in office till March 2003, leaving the stage for Justice Munir A. Sheikh to become the next chief justice.