Hassan Naqvi
LAHORE: The President of Pakistan Arif Alvi has approved appointment of new Chief Justice (CJ) Lahore High Court (LHC) Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan who will replace the outgoing CJ Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti whose tenure would end on Thursday March 7 (today).
New CJ Justice Shahzad Ahmad Khan will take oath on March 8 and he will retire on March 14, 2025.
Profile of Justice Shahzad Ahmad Khan
Mr. Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan, born on March 15, 1963, in Pindi Gheb, District Attock, pursued his education at Gordon College, Rawalpindi, and Punjab University, where he obtained his Bachelor’s degree.
He later earned his L.L.B degree from University Law College, Punjab University, Lahore in 1989. After being enrolled as an Advocate in 1990, he commenced practice in Rawalpindi, subsequently becoming an Advocate of the High Court in 1993 and of the Supreme Court of Pakistan in 2004.
Over his twenty-one years of practice, he handled numerous cases and actively participated in Bar elections, serving as Secretary General of the High Court Bar Association, Rawalpindi in 2004 and as its President in 2009.
He was appointed as an Additional Judge of Lahore High Court, Lahore on May 12, 2011, and confirmed on May 11, 2013.
What are the challenges for the new CJ?
As Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmed Khan prepares to assume the role of Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court, he will confront the daunting task of addressing a backlog of 1.3 million pending cases in the lower judiciary of Punjab and 200,000 cases within the Lahore High Court itself. This necessitates the efficient management of 1.5 million pending cases and the formulation of new policies to expedite their resolution.
Moreover, with the impending reduction of judges in the Lahore High Court to 38 on March 8, filling the existing 22 vacancies poses a significant challenge. The prolonged absence of any judicial appointments in the Lahore High Court over the past 30 months has severely hindered the timely administration of justice.
In addition, the ongoing strike by lawyers in Lahore, spanning one and a half months, regarding case allocations has compounded the difficulties faced by litigants due to the non-adjudication of their cases.
These formidable challenges await Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmed Khan as he assumes his new role, and it is anticipated that he will introduce innovative policies to address these issues effectively.
Speaking to The Frontier Post (TFP) Legal expert Mian Dawood emphasizes Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmed Khan’s proficiency in constitutional law and his capability to tackle these challenges.
“Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmed Khan is courageous and we expect him to resolve the issues at hand,” Dawood said.
Furthermore, lawyer bodies have expressed their support for Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmed Khan’s appointment as Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court.
