Justice Aalia Neelum made history on Thursday when she took oath as first woman chief justice of Lahore High Court (LHC), reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan administered oath to Justice Neelum at an impressive ceremony held at Governor’s House in Lahore.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, LHC judges, senior lawyers also attended the oath-taking ceremony.
On Wednesday, President Asif Ali Zardari approved Justice Neelum’s appointment, as well as that of Justice Shafi Siddiqui as the Sindh High Court’s (SHC) top judge, under Article 175-A(13) of the Constitution.
The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP), headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa, had last week recommended Justice Neelum’s elevation after considering the nominations of three judges for the position of LHC chief justice, including acting Chief Justice Shujaat Ali Khan and Justice Ali Baqar Najafi.
The JCP had also unanimously recommended Justice Siddiqui’s elevation as the SHC chief justice to fill the vacant seat created by the elevation of Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi to the Supreme Court.
The office of LHC chief justice became vacant after the elevation of Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan to the Supreme Court on June 7, following which Justice Shujaat Ali Khan was appointed as acting LHC chief justice.
Justice Neelum stood third in the seniority list of judges of the LHC. During the June 7 meeting, the JCP had decided to consider her nomination for the office of the LHC chief justice.
In a trailblazing milestone, Justice Syeda Tahira Safdar became the first woman to hold the position of chief justice of the Balochistan High Court in 2018, following the retirement of Justice Mohammad Noor Muskanzai. This was followed by another historic achievement when Justice Ayesha A Malik became the first woman judge to be appointed to the Supreme Court in 2021.
Justice Aalia Neelum’s appointment is a significant milestone in the history of the court and a testament to her exceptional qualifications and dedication to the legal profession. Justice Miss Aalia Neelum is a distinguished jurist with a remarkable career spanning over two decades.
Born on November 12, 1966, she 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. She also holds diplomas in Sharia Law and Advanced Sharia Law from the Islamic University of Islamabad, as well as a diploma in Intellectual Property Rights from the University of the Punjab. Additionally, she has a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of the Punjab, Lahore.
Justice Miss Aalia Neelum began her legal career in 1996, enrolling as an advocate with the Punjab Bar Council. She quickly established herself as a formidable lawyer, excelling in various domains, including Constitutional Law, White-Collar Crime, Civil, Criminal, Anti-Terrorism laws, NAB, Banking Offences, Special Central Courts Law, and Banking Laws. Her exceptional advocacy skills and in-depth knowledge of the law earned her recognition, and she was enrolled as an Advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan in 2008.
Her outstanding performance and dedication to the legal profession led to her elevation as an Additional Judge of the Lahore High Court in 2013. Later, she received confirmation and took oath as a Judge on March 16, 2015, and has since rendered 203 reported judgments on a wide range of legal issues. Justice Miss Aalia Neelum has also served as the Inspection Judge for multiple districts, including Okara, Nankana, Gujrat, Sheikhupura, and Rawalpindi, and has acted as the Monitoring/Administrative Judge for various special courts and tribunals, including as the first female Administrative Judge of Anti-Terrorism Courts of the Punjab.
Throughout her career, Justice Miss Aalia Neelum has demonstrated a strong commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment. She has played a pivotal role in the establishment of Gender-Based Violence Courts and has been a vocal advocate for women’s rights. Her contributions to the development of law and her steadfast support for gender equality have inspired countless individuals, both within and outside the legal community.
Justice Miss Aalia Neelum has also participated in several international conferences, further enriching her knowledge and expertise. She attended various conferences held in Washington D.C., Minneapolis, USA, the Philippines, Argentina, and New Zealand, focusing on intellectual property rights enforcement, criminal justice, legal literacy for women, and building bridges between women judges globally.
Notably, Justice Miss Aalia Neelum played a vital role in preparing the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for recording evidence during trials in E-Courts in the Province of Punjab. This significant contribution has streamlined the evidence recording process, enhancing the efficiency and transparency of trial proceedings. The Administration Committee approved the SOP, which has now been implemented in all trial courts across the province of Punjab.