- President Zardari appoints new chief justices for SHC and LHC.
- Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui and Justice Aalia Neelum to lead the courts.
- Appointments follow the elevation of former chief justices to the Supreme Court.
President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday approved the appointments of Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui and Justice Aalia Neelum as the chief justices of the Sindh High Court (SHC) and the Lahore High Court (LHC) respectively. This decision, made under Article 175-A (13) of the Constitution, follows the elevation of the previous chief justices to the Supreme Court last month.
Justice Siddiqui and Justice Neelum were unanimously nominated by the Judicial Commission of Pakistan in June. Their appointments come after the vacancies left by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi of the SHC and Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan of the LHC.
Justice Aalia Neelum is set to take her oath in a ceremony at the Punjab Governor House in Lahore at 9:30am on Thursday, administered by Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan. Born on November 12, 1966, Justice Aalia has an extensive legal background, holding an LLB degree from the University of Punjab obtained in 1995. She became an advocate in 1996 and has served in the top court since 2008.
Throughout her judicial career, Justice Aalia has issued numerous significant judgments since joining the LHC bench in 2013. Her academic qualifications include a Master’s degree in Political Science, multiple law-related diplomas, and a B.Ed degree. Known for her work in criminal, civil, and anti-terrorism laws, she has also been a focal person for gender-based violence courts.
These new appointments signify a notable shift in the judiciary, promising continued dedication to justice and legal excellence in Pakistan’s high courts.
