Justice Aalia Neelum has made history by becoming the first woman appointed as Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court (LHC). She succeeds outgoing Chief Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan, who has been elevated to the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), chaired by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa, unanimously approved her appointment. Other candidates considered for the position included Justice Shujat Ali Khan and Justice Baqar Najafi.
Read more: Kishmala Talat Aspires To Become Pakistan First Female Olympic Medalist
Born on November 12, 1966, Justice Aalia Neelum obtained her LL.B. degree from the University of the Punjab in 1995 and was enrolled as an Advocate on February 1, 1996. She was elevated to the bench of the Lahore High Court on April 12, 2013, and subsequently took oath as a judge on March 16, 2015.
Her educational background includes a range of qualifications such as an M.A. in Political Science, Diplomas in Sharia Law and Advanced Sharia Law from the Islamic University of Islamabad, a Diploma in Intellectual Property Rights, and a B.Ed. She was enrolled as an advocate of the High Court on February 7, 1998, and as an Advocate of the Supreme Court on September 27, 2008.
Throughout her career, Justice Aalia Neelum has made significant contributions to various fields of law including Constitutional Law, White-Collar Crime, Civil and Criminal Law, Anti-Terrorism Laws, NAB (National Accountability Bureau) cases, Banking Offenses, Special Central Courts Law, and Banking Laws.
