Judge Aalia Neelum took the oath of office as the chief justice of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday in a modest ceremony at the Governor’s House in Lahore, making history as the first female chief justice of the court.
The oath was given to Justice Neelum by Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan. High Court judges, along with other senior officials, were present at the oath-taking ceremony led by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
After receiving a guard of honor, Justice Neelum, who started practicing law in 1996, was given the oath by the governor of Punjab.
The first female justice on the Supreme Court is Ayesha Malik, it should be mentioned. Upon her oath of office as chief judge of the Peshawar High Court (PHC), Musarrat Hilali became the first female chief justice in Pakistani courts history.
A major turning point in the court’s history, Chief Justice Neelum’s appointment is evidence of her extraordinary credentials and commitment to the legal profession. With a noteworthy career spanning more than 20 years, she is a recognized jurist.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa convened a meeting of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) when her name was unanimously accepted. Judges Baqar Najafi and Shujaat Ali Khan were also given consideration by the council for this position. As the Pakistani Supreme Court’s new member, she would take the seat of Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan.
Chief Justice Neelum was born in 1966 and ranked third on the high court’s seniority list. She graduated with a degree in law in 1995 from Punjab University Law College and also possesses other legal certifications.
After being admitted to the Supreme Court in 2008, she started her career as a registered lawyer in 1996 and then joined the high court. In addition to practicing civil and criminal law, she also practiced anti-terrorism and constitutional law.
Following his appointment as an ad hoc judge in 2013, Chief Justice Neelum was made a permanent judge of the Lahore High Court in 2015. Standard operating procedures (SOPs) were also created by her for video link evidence collection.
Pakistan’s state-owned news agency, Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), wrote in one of its reports, “Throughout her career, Justice Miss Aalia Neelum has demonstrated a strong commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment.”
The statement said, “She has been a vocal advocate for women’s rights and has played a pivotal role in the establishment of Gender-Based Violence Courts.”
