Lahore High Court grants extension for judge appointments

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has recently allowed the provincial government a three-week extension to finalize the appointment of judges to special courts, including anti-terrorism courts. This decision came about during a hearing of a petition filed by the provincial government, seeking the transfer of specific cases from Anti-Terrorism Court-1 Rawalpindi to another court. Chief Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan of LHC issued the directive.

During the court session, members of the provincial committee responsible for vetting the judge appointments, such as Marriyum Aurangzeb and Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, appeared as per the court's instructions from the previous hearing. Advocate General Punjab, Khalid Ishaq, provided an update to the court on the progress made in appointing judges. Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb highlighted the government's commitment to transparent appointments, while Provincial Law Minister Sohaib Ahmad assured that all appointments would meet legal standards.

Chief Justice Khan expressed dissatisfaction with the delay in appointing judges, stressing the importance of timely appointments for swift judicial decisions. In response, Marriyum Aurangzeb mentioned the formation of a committee by the Punjab government to recommend a pool of judges for appointments, ensuring that selections would be made from this recommended list.

The Lahore High Court's decision to grant an extension for the appointment of judges to special courts reflects the ongoing efforts to streamline the judicial process in the region. The commitment of the provincial government to transparent and legally sound appointments signifies a step towards ensuring efficient and fair dispensation of justice in the anti-terrorism courts.