The Punjab Government has notified judges of the special courts.
The appointment of judges was made at the orders of the Chief Justice Lahore High Court. The Advocate General of the Punjab presented the notification of the newly appointed judges in the court of the Chief Justice LHC today. The provincial cabinet of the Punjab headed by Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz approved the appointment of the judges.
According to the notification, the government has appointed six judges of the anti-terrorism courts in Punjab. Two judges were appointed in anti-corruption courts, while one judge each was appointed in service tribunal and consumer courts of Punjab. It is worth mentioning here that the Punjab government earlier showed reluctance and the chief of the LHC was reported as saying “If the Chief Minister Punjab doesn’t have time, then concerning the importance of the matter, I can personally go to her to finalize the matter of the appointment of the judges.” The government finally consented to the appointment of these judges that the LHC’s chief Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan nominated. The government was reported to have acted upon the orders of the court to avoid any potential confrontation. The government may also challenge the LHC’s order in the apex court.
The Punjab government earlier communicated its concerns to the LHC’s registrar office citing the need for meaningful consultation. The LHC’s chief in response issued a judicial order directing the government to appoint these judges and dismissed the government’s objections. The order said if compliance was not made then the CM would be required to appear before the LHC bench and set the matter for hearing today.
Importantly the judiciary in Punjab suggested an end to the executive’s involvement in the appointment and transfer of special court judges and requested the apex court that the high courts should be empowered to directly make transfers and postings of the judges of those courts without approval or interference of the government. This was suggested when The Supreme Court sought the opinion of the high courts while hearing the IHC judges’ letter The LHC in its response submitted that there are always more chances of “interference” in the ATCs and anti-corruption courts, where sensitive matters were decided.
The LHC chief nominated District and Sessions Judge Khalid Arshad for ATC-I, Lahore, and District and Sessions Judge Asad Hafeez for ATC-II, Lahore in March. Later, Judge Hafeez’s nomination was withdrawn, and Irfan Haider was named as his replacement as the ATC-II, Lahore judge. Muhammad Abbas was nominated for the ATC, Sargodha, from where Ijaz Ahmad Buttar was repatriated. Similarly, Muhammad Naeem Saleem was named for the ATC, Gujranwala, from where Natasha Naseem Sipra was transferred. Ziaullah Khan was nominated for the position of ATC judge in Sahiwal, and Raja Shahid Zameer was proposed for the position of ATC judge in Faisalabad.
