Punjab judges reshuffle on May 9

Lahore:

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has carried out a major reshuffle and has transferred 48 lower court judges across the province, including several judges handling cases related to the May 9, 2023 incident.

The district and session judges hearing the May 9 cases in Rawalpindi, Lahore, Sargodha and Gujarat have been replaced. The prosecution has accused these judges of being partial to the so-called May 9 rioters – most of whom are Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders and workers.

Judge Malik Ejaz Asif of the Rawalpindi Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) has also been transferred to Lahore. He was hearing 14 cases related to the May 9 incident and the prosecutor raised objections against him. He was ordered to give up his post immediately. However, a new judge of the Rawalpindi ATC is yet to be appointed.

District and sessions judges of Attock, Jhelum and Chakwal have also been transferred. District and sessions judge of Sargodha, Muhammad Abbas, who had written to former LHC chief justice Malik Shahzad Ahmed Khan alleging interference in court affairs by some officials of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), has also been transferred.

The LHC initiated contempt proceedings based on the report shared by Abbas with his registrar and issued notices to all the accused, including the Sargodha sector commander of the ISI.

Lahore District and Sessions Judge Syed Ali Imran has been transferred to Rahim Yar Khan. The notification has been issued with the approval of Chief Justice Aalia Neelum, District and Sessions Judge, Lahore.

Justice Khalid Arshad, who heard the case on May 9, was also removed from office and ordered to report to the LHC immediately. A notice has been issued in this regard and Naseem Ahmed Virk has been appointed as the Lahore session judge.

District Judicial Director Sarfaraz Akhtar was appointed as circuit judge of Bahawalpur. Anti-corruption court judge Arshad Hussain Bhutta was also removed from office and ordered to report to the LHC immediately.

District and Sessions Judge Qaisar Butt of Mianwali has also been ordered to report to the LHC. District and Sessions Judge Raja Ghazanfar Ali has been transferred from Jhelum to Okara.