Lahore High Court moves to fill 19 vacant judges’ posts

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court (LHC) Justice Aalia Neelum has started the process for filling long-vacant positions at the court as it continues to face a growing caseload and a shortage of judges.

Official figures show the LHC has a sanctioned strength of 60 judges, but only 41 judges, including the chief justice, are currently working, leaving 19 seats vacant. The shortfall has increased the burden on serving judges, contributing to delays in case disposal and adding strain to the judicial system.

As part of the appointment process, Chief Justice Neelum has begun consultations and interviews with prospective candidates for elevation to the bench. Several senior advocates and law officers have already appeared before the chief justice during the selection exercise.

Candidates under consideration

Those interviewed include Ghulam Sarwar Nihang, who is serving as prosecutor general in the federal capital, Advocate Asad Ali Bajwa, Advocate Kashif Rajwana, son of former governor Rafiq Rajwana, Barrister Zargham, and Punjab Advocate General Amjad Pervaiz.

Other names under consideration are Barrister Usman Ghani Rashid, Syed Farhad Ali Shah, who is prosecutor general Punjab, Barrister Umer Riaz, Advocate Asad Abbasi, Advocate Shireen Imran, and Advocate Masroor Haider Awan, brother of Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan.

Two lawyers from Bahawalpur, including Amir Ajam, were also being considered for elevation to the high court.

Alongside the names being reviewed by the chief justice, the Punjab Bar Council is also expected to send a panel of nominees to the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP). Likely nominees include Hafiz Ansarul Haq and Additional Attorney General Munawar Iqbal Duggal.

Appointments delayed amid rule changes

The process for appointments to the superior judiciary has been slowed by recent constitutional and procedural developments. The JCP had been expected to meet last month to consider appointments, but that meeting was postponed.

During a recent Judicial Commission meeting that discussed the transfer of judges from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to other high courts, it was decided that fresh appointments would be taken up after new rules governing the commission’s functioning were finalised.

At that meeting, three IHC judges were transferred to different high courts: Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani to the LHC, Justice Babar Sattar to the Peshawar High Court, and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz to the Sindh High Court. The transfers were described in the report as part of a wider judicial reshuffle aimed at meeting administrative requirements across the superior judiciary.

The government proposed that the next JCP meeting should be held only after revised rules are finalised in light of recent constitutional amendments.

The 26th Amendment introduced major changes to the composition and functioning of the Judicial Commission, changing the balance of representation within the body. After that, the 27th Constitutional Amendment brought further changes, making a fresh set of rules necessary for regulating the appointment process.