In a major shake-up within Punjab’s subordinate judiciary, as many as 48 district and sessions judges were transferred on Saturday.
The judges from Rawalpindi, Lahore, Sargodha, and Gujranwala, who were hearing cases related to the May 9 incidents, were also transferred.
The prosecutors had expressed concerns, alleging that these judges were biased in favor of the accused involved in the May 9 cases. However, no new judges were appointed to the Anti-Terrorism Courts (ATCs).
The judge of the Anti-Terrorism Court in Rawalpindi was transferred. Malik Ejaz Asif, who was hearing 14 cases related to the May 9 incidents, was moved from Rawalpindi to Lahore.
The prosecutors in these cases had raised objections against him.
He was ordered to relinquish his charge immediately, which he complied with upon receiving the transfer order. However, a new judge for the Anti-Terrorism Court in Rawalpindi was not appointed yet.
The District and Sessions Judges of Attock, Jhelum and Chakwal were also transferred. Sargodha’s District and Sessions Judge Abbas, who had written a letter to the Lahore High Court, was also transferred.
District and Sessions Judge Lahore, Syed Ali Imran was transferred to Rahim Yar Khan. The notification was issued after approval from the Lahore High Court chief justice.
Judge Khalid Arshad, who was hearing May 9 cases, has also been removed from his position and ordered to report to the Lahore High Court immediately.
A notification regarding this was issued by the relevant authorities.
Naseem Virk was appointed as the Sessions Judge of Lahore.
Director General of District Judiciary Sarfaraz Akhtar was appointed as the Sessions Judge of Bahawalpur.
Anti-Corruption Court Judge Arshad Hussain Bhutta was removed from his position and ordered to report to the Lahore High Court immediately.
Mianwali Sessions Judge Qaisar Butt was also directed to report to the LHC. Sessions Judge Raja Ghulam Safdar Ali was transferred from Jhelum to Okara.
