Who is the new Chief Justice of Lahore High Court?

Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmed Khan of Lahore High Court will take oath of office as the Chief Justice of Lahore High Court on March 8 tomorrow.

Governor Punjab Balighur Rahman will take oath from the 52nd Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

Chief Justice Lahore High Court Muhammad Amir Bhatti retired today on March 7 after two years and eight months. A farewell function was organized in his honor in which the Chief Justice-designate also participated.

According to the records of the Lahore High Court, the new Chief Justice will serve in this position for a period of more than one year.

After approving the appointment of Justice Malik Shehzad Ahmed Khan as Chief Justice of Lahore High Court in the Judicial Commission meeting, President Arif Alvi has also approved his appointment.

He will begin his duties at the seat of the country’s largest province by population at a time when petitions related to the recent elections and cases against the accused involved in the May 9 incidents are also pending.

However, the High Court Bar welcomed his appointment and described his role as important in the rule of law.

Key Decisions and Challenges as a Judge:

President High Court Bar Association Asad Manzoor Butt said in a conversation with Independent Urdu that ‘as a judge, he is considered to have a very competent and principled personality. He always believes in promoting the relationship between the bar and the bench.’

“His appointment will help improve the professional skills of lawyers and solve the problems they face. We hope that through his guidance with the Rule of Law, lawyers will continue to play a role in ensuring that justice is delivered to Cylians.’

Lahore High Court senior jurist Mian Dawood while talking to Independent Urdu said that Justice Malik Shehzad Ahmed is known as the best judge in criminal and constitutional cases. He is known as a judge who takes decisions bravely without taking any pressure into account.’

He also heard the petitions related to the NAB cases filed against Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza Shehbaz in 2019, during which the bench headed by him granted the bails of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and former Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz arrested by NAB. Approved.’

According to Mian Dawood, whenever a constitutional request came before him, he gave decisions according to the constitution and law after discussing the legal aspects. Lawyers have to be fully prepared when appearing before them in a case because without legal references they avoid listening to arguments.’

He said that Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmed Khan will have the challenge of dealing with more than 1.3 lakh pending cases in the subordinate judiciary of Punjab and more than 2 lakh pending cases in the Lahore High Court as soon as he takes office. The number of judges in the Lahore High Court will be reduced to 38 on March 8 and filling the vacancies of 22 judges will also be a big challenge, because not a single judge has been appointed in the Lahore High Court for the last two and a half years. Timely supply of has been affected.’

Mian Dawood said that “lawyers related to the division of local courts in Lahore have been on strike for the last one and a half months, while the lawyers are facing difficulties as the cases are not being heard in Lahore.” It is hoped that Justice Malik Shehzad Ahmed Khan will find a positive solution to all the problems.

Justice Malik Shehzad Ahmad Khan’s introduction and role of lawyers in politics?

According to Lahore High Court records, Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan was born on March 15, 1963 in Pindi Gheb District, Attock. He graduated from Gordon College Rawalpindi, obtained his LLB degree from University Law College, Punjab University Lahore in 1989 and started practicing law in Rawalpindi in 1990.

He became an advocate of the High Court in 1993 and the Supreme Court of Pakistan in 2004 and practiced as an advocate for 21 years.

Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmed Khan was elected Secretary General of High Court Bar Association Rawalpindi in 2004 and President of High Court Bar Association Rawalpindi in 2009. Appointed Additional Judge in Lahore High Court on 12 May 2011 and became Permanent Judge on 11 May 2013.

Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmed Khan will retire as Chief Justice on March 15, 2025. Thus, he will hold the post of Chief Justice for one year and six days.

Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmed Khan said in his speech at the lawyers’ ceremony in Lahore on Wednesday that there is no doubt that lawyers are playing an effective role in the independent judiciary, constitution and rule of law. But the five percent of lawyers or those disguised as lawyers at the bar are all notorious. The situation of the country is in front of all of you. In the current situation, the judiciary and lawyers are the hope of all.

He said, “Judges should issue judgments without any greed or fear. There are 14 lakh cases in Punjab, and everyone has to play a role in solving them.” The judges of the subordinate judiciary should prefer to sit in the courtroom rather than the chamber.

I think the role of the subordinate judiciary is very important for the improvement of the institution. I have had the opportunity to see the judicial system of two, three countries. There were a total of 70 cases in the Supreme Court of Hong Kong, our judges have five times more cases than their capacity, some of the judges in the subordinate courts are in dire need of reform, 700 judges in the subordinate courts. Despite this, the performance of the judges is commendable.

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