LHC begins process to appoint judges to fill all 60 approved positions
Pakistan
The LHC has an approved strength of 60 judges, however, this number has never been fully achieved in the past.
LAHORE (Muhammad Ashfaq) - Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court (LHC), Justice Aalia Neelum, has initiated a formal process to fill all 60 approved judge positions in the court, including 18 currently vacant seats.
The LHC has an approved strength of 60 judges, however, this number has never been fully achieved in the past. Justice Aalia Neelum has suggested that all sanctioned positions will be filled to address the growing backlog of cases and reduce the workload on serving judges.
At present, 42 judges, including the Chief Justice, are performing judicial duties at the LHC, while 18 seats remain vacant. Due to the shortage of judges, the number of pending cases has continued to rise, placing significant pressure on the existing bench. Bar associations have long been demanding the appointment of new judges, terming the vacancies a major hurdle in the delivery of timely justice.
According to officials, a transparent and structured appointment process has been launched. Names of reputed, competent, and individuals of high integrity from the legal fraternity are under consideration, including eligible and honest government lawyers.
In the first phase, professional records of lawyers are being collected, followed by shortlisting and interviews. The selected names will then be forwarded by the Chief Justice and other commission members to the Chairman of the Judicial Commission.
Sources indicate that the appointment process is likely to be completed within one to two months. Vice Chairman of the Pakistan Bar Council, Pir Masood Chishti, praised the initiative, calling it a long-standing demand of the legal community. Lahore High Court Bar Secretary Farrukh Ilyas Cheema also welcomed the move, saying it would help ensure prompt justice and strengthen the judicial system.
