ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi on Thursday appointed 13 additional judges to the Lahore High Court (LHC).

According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice, the newly appointed judges are: Sohail Nasir, Sultan Tanvir Ahmed, Mohammad Tariq Nadim, Ahmad Nadeem Arshad, Ali Zia Bajwa, Abid Hussain Chathha, Mohammad Shan Gul, Mohammad Raheel Kamran Sheikh, Mohammad Raza Qureshi, Anwaar Hussain, Mohammad Amjad Rafique, Safdar Salim Shahid and Shakil Ahmed.

According to the notification, “in exercise of the powers conferred by Article 197 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pak­istan, the Pre­sident is pleased to appoint…Additional Judges of the Lahore High Court for a period of one year with effect from the date they make oath of their office.”

The additional judges are likely to be sworn in on Friday (today).

The elevation process was interrupted after LHC Chief Justice Mohammad Qasim Khan withdrew a list containing 16 names during a meeting of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) on Jan 12.

Headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed, the JCP had to postpone its meeting. As a fresh list was to be finalised for the JCP’s consideration, its meeting had to be rescheduled.

According to reports, the LHC chief justice had withdrawn the previous list since none of the commission’s members seemed satisfied with the proposed names.

It was stated then that the JCP’s antecedent committee was not happy with some the nomination of some candidates despite the fact that the names had been finalised after consultation with bar councils and bar associations as well as extensive consultations with other stakeholders.

Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2021