Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ali Baqar Najafi of Lahore High Court (LHC), took oath as the Acting Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court, Lahore. The oath was administered by the Hon’ble Mr. Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh in a dignified ceremony held at the LHC Judges’ Lounge.
The oath-taking ceremony was attended by the several Hon’ble Judges of LHC, including Mr. Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza, Mr. Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi, Mr. Justice Faisal Zaman Khan, Mr. Justice Masud Abid Naqvi, Mr. Justice Shahid Karim, Mr. Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh, Mr. Justice Muhammad Waheed Khan, Mr. Justice Asim Hafeez, Mr. Justice Muhammad Tariq Nadeem, Mr. Justice Abid Hussain Chatha, Mr. Justice Anwar Hussain and Mr. Justice Ali Zia Bajwa.
Registrar LHC Abher Gul Khan, conducted the proceedings of the oath taking ceremony. LHC’s Senior officers including Director General Judicial and Case Management Muhammad Tanveer Akbar, District and Sessions Judge Human Resource Ch. Muhammad Anwar-ul-Haq and Director General District Judiciary Malik Ali Zulqarnain Awan were also present on the occasion. Other dignitaries present at the ceremony included Advocate General Punjab Khalid Ishaq, Prosecutor General Punjab Syed Farhad Ali Shah, Additional Attorney General Mirza Nasar Baig, Deputy Attorney General Asad Ali Bajwa, Federal & Provincial Law Officers, Members of Pakistan & Punjab Bar Councils, Office bearers of Lahore High Court Bar Association & Lahore Bar Association, as well as other senior lawyers and family members of the Acting Chief Justice.
After taking oath, Acting Chief Justice Mr. Ali Baqar Najafi was congratulated by the judges, lawyers, and other dignitaries present on the occasion. It is noteworthy that Hon’ble Chief Justice of Lahore High Court, Lahore, Miss Aalia Neelum is currently on a private visit abroad, and in her absence, Justice Ali Baqar Najafi will perform the duties of the Acting Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court, Lahore.
Meanwhile, in a surprising move, Justice Ali Baqar Najafi declined to receive the Guard of Honor, a traditional ceremony usually accorded to the Chief Justice. He also opted out of the protocol normally extended to the Chief Justice. This decision is seen as a significant departure from traditional practices and reflects Justice Ali Baqar Najafi’s commitment to simplicity and humility.
