Justice Aalia Neelum becomes first female Chief Justice of LHC

CJ Neelum's oath-taking ceremony was held at the Governor’s House in Lahore

LAHORE:

Justice Aalia Neelum has become the first woman to serve as the Chief Justice of Punjab's top court. The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) unanimously approved her elevation.

Justice Neelum will serve until November 11, 2028.

The JCP earlier this week deliberated on the elevation of Justice Neelum as the next chief justice of the LHC, according to a June 9 report published on The Express Tribune.

Both the government representatives—the attorney general for Pakistan and the law minister—had agreed on the consideration of Justice Neelum as the new LHC CJ.

Today, the oath-taking ceremony was held at the Governor’s House, where Governor Punjab Sardar Saleem Haider Khan administered the oath to Justice Neelum. The event was attended by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, alongside esteemed guests including judges, lawyers, and government officials.

Governor Haider Khan congratulated Justice Neelum on her new role, to which she expressed her gratitude towards both the governor and CM Maryam.

The legal community has expressed confidence that CJ Neelum will lead the Lahore High Court (LHC) with integrity, wisdom, and vision.

 

Early career

CJ Neelam had a distinguished career spanning over two decades. The CJ obtained her L.L.B. degree from the University of the Punjab, Lahore, in 1995, and later earned a Master’s degree in Political Science from the same institution. CJ Neelam also holds diplomas in Sharia Law, Advanced Sharia Law from the Islamic University of Islamabad, and Intellectual Property Rights from the University of the Punjab, as well as a Bachelor of Education degree.

Justice Neelum began her legal career in 1996 as an advocate with the Punjab Bar Council, quickly establishing herself in Constitutional Law, White-Collar Crime, Civil, Criminal, and Anti-Terrorism laws, and Banking Laws. She was enrolled as an Advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan in 2008.

Her dedication and exceptional performance led to her appointment as an Additional Judge of the Lahore High Court in 2013. She was confirmed as a Judge in 2015 and has since rendered 203 reported judgments on a wide range of legal issues. CJ Neelam has served as the Inspection Judge for multiple districts and as the Monitoring/Administrative Judge for various special courts and tribunals, including being the first female Administrative Judge of Anti-Terrorism Courts in Punjab.

Throughout her career, CJ Neelum has been a strong advocate for gender equality and women's empowerment. She has played a pivotal role in establishing Gender-Based Violence Courts and has been a vocal supporter of women's rights. Her contributions to the development of law and her advocacy for gender equality have inspired many within and beyond the legal community.

Justice Neelum has also participated in several international conferences, enhancing her expertise in areas such as intellectual property rights enforcement, criminal justice, legal literacy for women, and global cooperation among women judges. Notably, she played a crucial role in preparing the Standing Operating Procedure (SOP) for recording evidence during trials in E-Courts in Punjab. This SOP has been implemented across all trial courts in the province, improving the efficiency and transparency of trial proceedings.