ISLAMABAD — The federal government has appointed Justice (R) Muhammad Junaid Ghaffar, former Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court, as the new Chairman of the Competition Appellate Tribunal (CAT).
Justice Junaid Ghaffar succeeds Justice (R) Sajjad Ali Shah, who retired on August 13, 2025, after attaining the age of superannuation. Justice Sajjad had been appointed CAT Chairman on February 25, 2025, and during his tenure reduced the backlog of competition-related cases by nearly 50 percent.
Justice Ghaffar was elevated as a judge of the Sindh High Court in 2013 and became a permanent judge later. He was appointed Acting Chief Justice on February 14, 2025, confirmed as Chief Justice on July 8, 2025, and retired on September 13, 2025. His judicial experience spans constitutional, commercial, and civil matters.
The Competition Appellate Tribunal serves as the primary appellate forum for reviewing orders, penalties, and decisions issued by the Competition Commission of Pakistan under the Competition Act, 2010.
Justice Ghaffar’s appointment is expected to strengthen the quality and consistency of competition jurisprudence in Pakistan. The CAT currently comprises two other members, Dr Faiz Elahi Memon and Asim Akram, both appointed in February 2025.
