They further maintained that after its constitution, the commission must reconvene and consider the appointment of the senior most judge of the Lahore High Court as the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court. They further objected to whether judicial appointments, made in violation of the seniority principle, are a threat to the faith and confidence that the public places in the judiciary. Thereafter, the JCP convened a meeting to consider the nominations of three judges for the position of Chief Justice of LHC, including acting Chief Justice Shujaat Ali Khan, Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, and the now Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court, Justice Aalia Neelum. At this juncture, it is pertinent to highlight that Justice Neelum was the most junior amongst the three candidates for the post of Chief Justice of LHC. The seniority principle, as laid out in the seminal judgment of Al-Jehad trust, is also a constitutional convention.

Source: The Express Tribune August 02, 2024 10:58 UTC