Reshuffle targets May 9 judges in Punjab

In a major reshuffle, the Lahore High Court (LHC) has transferred and posted 48 lower court judges across the province, including several judges who were handling cases related to the May 9, 2023, incidents.

District and sessions judges adjudicating May 9 cases in Rawalpindi, Lahore, Sargodha, and Gujranwala have been replaced. The prosecution had accused these judges of being biased in favor of the alleged May 9 rioters—mostly PTI leaders and workers.

The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) judge in Rawalpindi, Malik Ejaz Asif, has also been transferred to La-hore. He was presiding over 14 cases related to the May 9 incidents, and the prosecutors had raised objections to him. He was ordered to relinquish his charge immediately. However, a new judge for the Rawalpindi ATC has not yet been appointed.

The district and sessions judges of Attock, Jhelum, and Chakwal have also been transferred. Sargo-dha’s District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Abbas, who had written a letter to the LHC’s former chief justice, Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan, about the alleged interference of some officials of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in court matters, has also been transferred.

The LHC had initiated contempt proceedings based on the reports shared with the LHC registrar by Abbas and issued notices to all respondents, including the ISI Sargodha sector commander.

Lahore’s District and Sessions Judge Syed Ali Imran has been transferred to Rahim Yar Khan. A notification was issued following the approval of LHC Chief Justice Aalia Neelum.

Judge Khalid Arshad, who was hearing the May 9 cases, has also been removed from his position and ordered to report to the LHC immediately. A notification in this regard has been issued, and Naseem Ahmed Virk has been appointed as the Sessions Judge of Lahore.

Director General District Judiciary Sarfaraz Akhtar has been appointed as the Sessions Judge of Bahawalpur. Anti-Corruption Court Judge Arshad Hussain Bhutta has also been removed from his position and ordered to report to the LHC immediately.

Mianwali’s District and Sessions Judge Qaisar Butt has also been ordered to report to the LHC. District and Sessions Judge Raja Ghazanfar Ali has been transferred from Jhelum to Okara.