Challenge Filed in Supreme Court Against Appointment of Chief Justice of Lahore High Court Aliya Neelum

Lahore: The appointment of Chief Justice Aliya Neelum to the Lahore High Court has been challenged in the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Shafqat Mahmood Chohan, a member of the Pakistan Bar Council, has filed a petition against Justice Neelum’s appointment, arguing that it violates the principle of seniority and is thus unconstitutional.
In his petition, Chohan contends that the principle of seniority was established in the Al-Jehad Trust case, and calls for the court to annul the appointment of a junior judge as Chief Justice. Justice Aliya Neelum took her oath of office on July 11, 2024, with Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider administering the oath.
Previously, under the chairmanship of Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, the Judicial Commission of Pakistan had formally approved Justice Neelum’s nomination as Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court. Following the President’s approval, the Ministry of Law issued a notification for her appointment.
Justice Neelum is noted as the first woman in the country’s history to hold the position of Chief Justice of a High Court.