SC bureaucracy sees top-level reshuffle

Senior-level administrative appointments announced

ISLAMABAD:

The Supreme Court on Saturday announced several senior-level administrative appointments "aimed at ensuring operational continuity and advancing reform within the court's administrative framework".

According to an official statement, Sohail Mohammad Laghari presently serving as the secretary of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), has been appointed as the SC registrar on deputation in BS-22.

Laghari is originally a district and sessions judge in the lower courts working under the Sindh High Court (SHC) and previously served as the SHC registrar. "[He] brings with him extensive experience in judicial management and institutional administration," the statement said.

Laghari has replaced SC Registrar Muhammad Salim Khan, who October 30 resigned from his position, citing personal reasons after completing his 45-day leave.

In another appointment, Fakhar Zaman, a district and sessions judge under the Peshawar High Court (PHC) has been appointed as director general (Reforms) in the SC on deputation also in BS-22.

He is currently serving as the additional registrar (administration) in the Supreme Court. According to the statement, Zaman brings over three decades of experience in institutional reforms, policy innovation, and judicial education.

The secretariat of the SJC has requisitioned the services of Abid Rizwan Abid, a district and sessions judge under the Lahore High Court, for appointment as the SJC secretary (BS-22) on deputation.

Muhammad Abbas Zaidi, currently serving as deputy registrar (judicial) in BS-20, has been assigned the current charge of Additional Registrar (Judicial) (BS-21).

Zulfikar Ahmed, a deputy registrar posted as officer in-charge at the SC Branch Registry in Karachi, has been assigned the current charge of additional registrar (BS-21) in the same registry.

Mohammad Safdar Mehmood, a deputy registrar posted as officer in-charge at the SC Branch Registry in Lahore has been assigned the current charge of additional registrar in the same registry.

Mujahid Mehmood, a deputy registrar in the SC Branch Registry in Peshawar has been assigned the current charge of additional registrar in the same registry.

Fawad Ahmad, a deputy registrar, has been assigned the current charge of an additional registrar and Sohail Ahmad, a deputy registrar (administration) in BS-20, has been assigned the current charge of additional registrar (administration) in BS-21.

"These appointments reaffirm the Supreme Court's commitment to institutional reform, efficient service delivery, and the strengthening of administrative structures that support the dispensation of justice," the statement said.

Premature retirement of former registrar

After almost one year of service, Muhammad Salim Khan last week resigned from his position as Supreme Court Registrar. He tendered his resignation, citing personal reasons.

However, there are reports that some Supreme Court judges were not happy with him. According to an SC notification, Khan had gone on leave from Sept 16 to Oct 30 for private reasons.

Khan had assumed charge as SC registrar on Nov 5 last year. A senior official stated that the registrar was appointed for a three-year term. "Going on 45 days' leave suddenly and now tendering resignation reflects that things were not going well," the official added.