LAHORE, Nov 13: Justice Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry who has been recommended by the Judicial Commission Pakistan (JCP) to head the Lahore High Court enjoys a good repute among his ‘brother judges’ as well as legal fraternity. The JCP recommended his name at its meeting in Islamabad on Saturday.

The commission will now forward its recommendation to a parliamentary commission on judges’ appointment, and if this recommendation gets approval, Justice Ijaz will take oath as LHC chief justice after the retirement of incumbent Chief Justice Khwaja Muhammad Sharif on Dec 8 (next month).

Justice Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry, who is a puisne judge of the LHC, is among those judges who were sacked by former military ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf (retired) for refusing oath under the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) promulgated on Nov 3, 2007.

He was elevated as LHC judge on May 2, 2001, when he was working as an additional advocate general of Punjab. He has also served as an assistant advocate general and special prosecutor.

He was enrolled as advocate in 1975 and as high court and Supreme Court lawyer in 1977 and 1992, respectively. During the period of his sacking under the PCO, Justice Chaudhry became a member of the Punjab Public Service Commission but resigned from the position after sometime.

In his resignation, he had written that the government by releasing his salary in capacity of a judge had validated his status as sitting LHC judge and he could not continue as a PPSC member. He also returned the salary he had withdrawn as member of the commission.

After his restoration, Justice Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry gave many bold verdicts in cases of public and national interest. He had put a ban on “Facebook”, a social networking website, for holding a contest of drawing blasphemous caricature of Holy Prophet (PBUH).

Justice Chaudhry also heard the case of Dr Afia Siddiqui and directed the federal government to take effective steps for the release and repatriation of the captive. He had directed the Foreign Office to write a letter to the US district court and provide all available evidence proving innocence of Dr Afia.

Nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadir Khan also got relief from the court of Justice Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry against alleged restrictions on his free movement by the federal government.

He is also heading a full bench which is hearing the dual office case against President Asif Ali Zardari. He will retire on Dec 14, 2012, from the high court. — Wajih Ahmad Sheikh