Justice Afghan sworn in as new BHC CJ

Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan has been sworn in as the new chief justice of the Balochistan High Court.

He was administered the oath by Balochistan Governor Syed Zahoor Ahmad Agha.

The oath-taking ceremony was attended by Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal, judges of the high court, provincial ministers, members of the Balochistan Assembly and military officials.

The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) in July approved the name of the Balochistan High Court CJ for elevation to the Supreme Court. After a passage of seven years, a BHC judge is being elevated to the apex court. Earlier, Justice Qazi Faez Isa was elevated to the SC in September 2014.

Read More: Justice Mandokhail takes oath as SC judge

The commission had also approved senior puisne judge Naeem Afghan as the new BHC chief justice.

Justice Afghan has issued various orders as soon as he took the charge as the top judge of the country’s largest province. He has barred district court judges from hearing cases in chambers and issuing interim orders. “Judges of Quetta District Courts to hear cases in open court,” the newly appointed chief justice directed.

Justice Afghan also advised the district judges to be punctual and come to court in regular uniforms apart from expediting proceedings in all the pending cases.

The CJ BHC also said hearing should not be adjourned without good reasoning. “Serious steps should be taken to deal with old cases under the law,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 10^th, 2021.