In a historic move, Justice Aalia Neelum has become the first woman to be appointed as the chief justice in the 142-year history of the Lahore High Court. Her appointment marks a significant milestone in Pakistan’s judicial history.
The oath-taking ceremony was held at the Governor House, where Punjab Governor Saleem Haider Khan administered the oath to Justice Neelum, with Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz in attendance.
The elevation of Justice Neelum was unanimously approved by the Judicial Commission of Pakistan, headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, which had considered the nominations of three judges for the position of LHC chief justice, including Justice Shujaat Ali Khan and Justice Ali Baqar Najafi. Following the commission’s approval, President Asif Ali Zardari officially notified Justice Neelum’s appointment as the high court’s chief justice.
Justice Neelum is now the 47th chief justice of the Lahore High Court since 1920 and the 54th overall since March 21, 1882, when the institution was known as the Chief Court of Lahore. Alongside her, the president also notified the appointment of the Sindh High Court’s new chief justice. The top positions became vacant after three high court judges, including the former chief justices of SHC and LHC — Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi and Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan — were elevated to the Supreme Court last month.
Justice Neelum has been a prominent figure in the judiciary, notably being part of the bench that directed former premier Imran Khan to join the investigation in 121 cases registered against him in May 2023. She was also one of the four LHC judges who received suspicious letters in April 2024.
A Glimpse into Justice Neelum’s Distinguished Career
Born on November 12, 1966, Justice Neelum’s career spans over two decades of remarkable achievements and contributions to the legal field. After obtaining her LLB degree from Punjab University in 1995, she earned a Master’s degree in Political Science from the same institution. She also holds diplomas in Sharia Law, Advanced Sharia Law from the Islamic University of Islamabad, and a diploma in Intellectual Property Rights from the University of the Punjab, along with a Bachelor of Education degree.
Justice Neelum began her legal career in 1996 as an advocate with the Punjab Bar Council. Her expertise in Constitutional Law, White-Collar Crime, Civil, Criminal, Anti-Terrorism laws, NAB, Banking Offences, Special Central Courts Law, and Banking Laws quickly established her as a formidable lawyer. In 2008, she was enrolled as an advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Her dedication and exceptional advocacy led to her elevation as an Additional Judge of the Lahore High Court in 2013. She was confirmed as a Judge on March 16, 2015, and has since rendered 203 reported judgments on various legal issues. Justice Neelum has also served as the Inspection Judge for districts like Okara, Nankana, Gujrat, Sheikhupura, and Rawalpindi, and has been the Monitoring/Administrative Judge for several special courts and tribunals, including as the first female Administrative Judge of Anti-Terrorism Courts of Punjab.
Justice Neelum’s appointment as chief justice is a testament to her exemplary career and dedication to the judiciary, paving the way for greater gender representation in Pakistan’s legal system.
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