TLDR:
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Judicial Commission LHC ke judges ki namzadgiyon ka jaiza le raha hai
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Fehrist mein sabiq judges ke bete aur khawateen wukala ghalib hain
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Aqliyaton ko shamil na kiye jane par tashweesh ka izhar
ISLAMABAD (The Thursday Times) — Judicial Commission of Pakistan ne Lahore High Court mein 25 khali aasamiyon par tainati ke liye ummeedwaron ki short list tayyar kar li hai, jis se judges ki tainati mein numaindagi, shafafiyat aur tanawwo par bahas chhir gayi hai. Namzad ummeedwaron mein sabiq judges ke chhe rishtedar, paanch khawateen wukala aur kai numayan advocates shamil hain. Qabil-e-zikr baat yeh hai ke fehrist mein aqliyati baradariyon se taalluq rakhne wala koi ummeedwar shamil nahin.
Sabiq judges ke bete namzadgiyon mein pesh pesh
Is short list ne sawalat khare kar diye hain kyunke is mein sabiq judges ke chhe bete shamil hain, jo Pakistan ki adliya mein khandani wirase ke rujhan ka tasalsul hai. Numayan naamon mein sabiq Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani ke bete Saqib Jillani aur sabiq Justice Nasim Sikandar ke bete Barrister Qadir Bukhsh shamil hain. Sabiq Chief Justice Abdul Shakur ul Salam ke bete Munawar us Salam aur Justice Abdul Shakoor Paracha ke bete Haseeb Shakoor Paracha bhi numayan hain.
In khandani taalluqat par tareef bhi ki gayi hai aur tanqeed bhi. Hamiyon ka mauqif hai ke mazboot adliyati khandani pas-manzar rakhne wale ummeedwar qanooni nizam mein qeemati tajurba aur baseerat le kar aate hain. Naqidin ne lekin iqraba-parwari ke ahliyat par haavi hone par tashweesh ka izhar kiya hai, khaaskar aise waqt mein jab Pakistan ki adliya ko shafafiyat aur islahat ke hawale se barhti hui jaanch parkh ka samna hai.
Namzad ummeedwaron mein numayan wukala
Fehrist mein aise numayan qanooni mahireen shamil hain jo wakalat aur adliyati amal mein wasee tajurba rakhte hain. Numayan namzad ummeedwaron mein Advocate General Khalid Ishaq aur Lahore High Court Bar Association ke sabiq secretary Haroon Dugal bhi shamil hain. National Accountability Bureau aur Federal Investigation Agency ke khilaf aham siyasi muqadmat ki pairwi ke liye mashhoor Advocate Pervez ki bhi sifarish ki gayi hai.
Sabahat Rizvi, who made history as the first woman secretary of the Lahore High Court Bar Association, is also among the nominees. Her nomination has been celebrated as a step towards empowering women in the legal profession, but it also highlights the relatively low representation of women in the judiciary.
Jazeela Aslam, known for breaking barriers as the first woman registrar of the Supreme Court, has been nominated alongside seasoned advocates such as Samia Khalid Mehmood and Asma Hamid. Their inclusion highlights an effort to integrate skilled professionals into the judiciary, though concerns remain about the overall gender imbalance in nominations.
Women’s representation remains limited
The Lahore High Court made history with the appointment of Aalia Neelum as its first woman Chief Justice. Despite this milestone, the representation of women in the current list remains low. Only five women lawyers have been nominated for the 25 vacant positions. While nominees such as Asma Hamid, Sabahat Rizvi, and Samia Khalid Mehmood are being lauded for their professional achievements, the disproportionately low number of women underscores the continued challenges of achieving gender parity in Pakistan’s legal system.
This disparity has reignited debates about structural barriers faced by women in the legal profession. Advocates have called for more inclusive policies that reflect the diversity of talent in Pakistan’s legal community.
No representation for minority communities
Perhaps the most striking omission from the list is the absence of candidates from minority communities. Senior lawyers and activists have criticised this exclusion, calling it a missed opportunity to promote inclusivity in Pakistan’s judiciary. They argue that the lack of minority representation sends a discouraging message about the judiciary’s commitment to reflecting the broader population it serves.
The omission is particularly glaring given the Lahore High Court’s historic role in addressing sensitive cases involving minority rights. Legal experts have urged the Judicial Commission to prioritise diversity and ensure that future nominations better represent Pakistan’s multicultural and multi-religious society.
Policy implications and future outlook
The Lahore High Court has been operating under a deficit, with only 35 judges currently handling an overwhelming caseload. The appointments aim to alleviate this burden and enhance the court’s efficiency. However, the controversy surrounding the nominations has brought renewed focus to the need for judicial reform, transparency, and meritocracy in Pakistan’s legal system.
Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, a former Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court and now a senior judge of the Supreme Court, has emphasised the importance of appointing individuals who can uphold the judiciary’s integrity. His nominations include candidates such as Rafay Zeeshan Javed Altaf, Haider Rasul Mirza, and Barrister Qasim Ali Chowhan, all recognised for their professional achievements.
As the Judicial Commission convenes to finalise the appointments, legal experts and the public alike are watching closely. The outcome will not only impact the functioning of the Lahore High Court but also set a precedent for how future judicial appointments are made in Pakistan.
