Justice Aalia Neelum makes history as Punjab’s first female Chief Justice, unanimously approved by Pakistan’s Judicial Commission.
Justice Neelum will hold office until November 11, 2028. Earlier this week, the JCP reviewed her nomination as the next Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court (LHC), as reported on June 9 by The Express Tribune.
Both the Attorney General for Pakistan and the Law Minister endorsed Justice Neelum’s candidacy for the position of LHC CJ.
Today, the oath-taking ceremony was held at the Governor’s House, where Governor Punjab Sardar Saleem Haider Khan administered the oath. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and other distinguished guests, including judges, lawyers, and government officials, attended the event.
Governor Haider Khan congratulated Justice Neelum on her new role, and she expressed gratitude to both the governor and CM Maryam.
The legal community is confident that CJ Neelum will lead the Lahore High Court with integrity, wisdom, and foresight.
Early Career:
CJ Neelum has had a distinguished career spanning over two decades. She earned her L.L.B. degree from the University of the Punjab, Lahore, in 1995, followed by a Master’s degree in Political Science from the same institution. Additionally, CJ Neelum holds diplomas in Sharia Law, Advanced Sharia Law from the Islamic University of Islamabad, Intellectual Property Rights from the University of the Punjab, and a Bachelor of Education degree.
In 1996, Justice Neelum began her legal career as an advocate with the Punjab Bar Council, specializing in Constitutional Law, White-Collar Crime, Civil and Criminal laws, Anti-Terrorism laws, and Banking Laws. She was enrolled as an Advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan in 2008.
Recognized for her dedication, CJ Neelum was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Lahore High Court in 2013 and confirmed as a Judge in 2015. She has delivered 203 reported judgments on diverse legal issues. CJ Neelum has served as the Inspection Judge for multiple districts and as the Monitoring/Administrative Judge for various special courts and tribunals. She also became the first female Administrative Judge of Anti-Terrorism Courts in Punjab.
Throughout her career, Justice Neelum has been a strong advocate for gender equality and women’s empowerment. She played a pivotal role in establishing Gender-Based Violence Courts and has been vocal in promoting women’s rights. Her contributions to the legal field have inspired many within and beyond the legal community.
Justice Neelum has 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. She notably contributed to developing the Standing Operating Procedure (SOP) for evidence recording in E-Courts in Punjab, which has been implemented across all trial courts in the province, improving trial efficiency and transparency.