Punjab: Today a new record was set when Justice Aalia Neelum took her oath making her the first female Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court (LHC). The swearing-in ceremony of these judges at the Governor’s House was a significant event in the new Pakistani judicial system.
The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) led by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa recommended the appointment of Justice Neelum, and then President Asif Ali Zardari gave his approval. Her promotion comes after the seat that was vacant due to Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan joining the Supreme Court on the 7th of June.
Justice Neelum was born on November 12, 1966, and she is a highly experienced legal person as she graduated from the University of Punjab with a degree in LLB in 1995. She became an enrolled advocate in 1996 and was admitted to the advocates of the Supreme Court in 2008. Lahore High Court judge Justice Neelum was appointed as a judge to the LHC in 2013 and became a permanent judge on the 16th of March, 2015.
Justice Neelum has passed 203 important bench notes and was the first female chairperson of the Punjab anti-terrorism courts. She also took an active part in establishing gender-sensitized courts for cases related to gender-based violence and in the formulation of standard operating procedures for trials in electronic courts in the provincial province.
This event was presided over by Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, and other such personae indicating general acceptance and understanding of this monumental step of appointing Justice Neelum to the Supreme Court.
Her promotion further shows the growth of Pakistan in embracing gender equality in the judiciary, after other previous achievements including, Justice Syeda Tahira Safdar, the first woman Chief Justice of the Balochistan High Court in 2018, as well as Justice Ayesha A. Malik, the first woman judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan appointed early this year 2021.
Justice Neelum’s appointment should go a long way in offering innovation to LHC and motivating future generations of women in law in the country.
