Pakistan’s lawmakers belonging to the ruling alliance picked a junior judge as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, a move which may spark another round of political and legal battle in the country that needs stability.

As the tenure of Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa nears its end, attention is now turning to the three most senior judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, one of whom is expected to be appointed as the next Chief Justice. Among the contenders are Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Muneeb Akhtar and Justice Yahya Afridi.

Pakistan approved changes to the constitution on Monday, which included empowering parliament to pick the Supreme Court's chief justice, drawing criticism from opposition parties who said it was an attempt to subvert the judiciary.