PESHAWAR, May 31: Peshawar High Court additional judge Azmatullah Malik passed away at a private hospital in Islamabad on Thursday morning after protracted illness.

He was later laid to rest at his ancestral town, Haripur, after funeral, where the PHC judges, including Chief Justice Dost Mohammad Khan, lawyers, friends, and members of family showed up in large numbers.

Justice Malik was a liver cancer patient.

Born on December 18, 1963, he commanded respect among legal fraternity. He was appointed the PHC additional judge by the president on August 2, 2011, on the recommendations of the Judicial Commission and Parliamentary Committee for Appointment of Judges.During his brief stint as judge, Justice Malik was praised by the bar for his fair and upright character and balanced judgments.

On Thursday when a bench comprising Chief Justice Dost Mohammad Khan and Justice Mian Fasihul Mulk reassembled in the courtroom after tea break, the chief justice pronounced Justice Malik’s death and announced to wind up proceedings as a gesture of mourning.

Lawyers present in the courtroom expressed grief over the death, saying the high court had lost a valuable member of the bench.

Barrister Zahoorul Haq, a senior member of the bar, recalled that around 15 years ago, he was conducting trial in a criminal case where Justice Malik appeared before him for one of the parties.

He said looking at his competence, he predicted to Justice Malik that one day he would be elevated as a judge of the high court. He added that the news of his untimely death shocked the lawyers’ community.

After the death of Justice Malik, the PHC strength has reduced to 11.

As another judge, Attaullah Khan, is to retire today (Friday), the number will further reduce to 10 against the sanctioned strength of 20.