BREAKING: Justice Aalia Neelum Makes History as Lahore High Court’s First Woman Chief Justice

Lahore, 11-07-2024 : In a significant milestone, Justice Aalia Neelum was sworn in as the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court (LHC) of Pakistan on Thursday, marking the first time a woman has assumed the highest judicial position at the esteemed court. The oath of office was administered by Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan, with Punjab’s first woman Chief Minister, Maryam Nawaz, in attendance at the ceremony.

Justice Neelum, aged 57, ranked third in seniority among LHC judges, but her nomination for the position of Chief Justice was supported by the Judicial Commission of Pakistan, led by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa. Following her appointment, photos of Justice Neelum alongside members of the ruling Sharif family circulated widely on social media, prompting discussions about her perceived affiliations with the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N).

Born on November 12, 1966, Justice Neelum completed her LLB degree from the University of Punjab in 1995 and was admitted to the bar as an advocate in 1996. She further achieved recognition as an advocate of the Supreme Court in 2008 and joined the Lahore High Court as a judge in 2013, becoming a permanent member on March 16, 2015.