PESHAWAR: Justice Shahjehan Khan Akhundzada, a judge of Peshawar High Court, died here early on Tuesday after protracted illness.

He was laid to rest at his ancestral graveyard in Fazalabad village of Swabi.

His funeral was attended by Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Mian Fasihul Mulk and other judges of the high court and subordinate judiciary, lawyers, relatives and friends in a large number.

Justice Shahjehan was suffering from cancer but he was attending his office. Even on Monday he heard different cases whereas cases were also fixed before his bench on Tuesday.Late Justice Shahjehan was born in a respectable family of Akhunzadgan, a clan of Yousafzai tribe in Swabi district on Jan 22, 1957. He did his LLB from Khyber Law College, University of Peshawar in the year 1979-80 following which he started practicing law and was enrolled as an advocate of lower courts in 1980.

He was appointed additional district and sessions judge on Sept 29, 1990, from the lawyers’ quota.

He was promoted as district and sessions judge in 1998 and he served against that post in different districts.

Justice Shahjehan was elevated to the bench as additional judge of the high court on July 19, 2012. Few days before his death, he was confirmed as a judge of the high court and he took oath of his office on March 6, 2014. During his stint as a judge, he enjoyed respect of the legal fraternity.

In order to offer reverence to the departed soul and to sympathise with the bereaved family, the PHC chief justice directed that there would be no court work at the principal seat as well as benches of the high court.

Meanwhile, a condolence meeting of the PHC Bar Association, chaired by its president Ishtiaq Ibrahim, was held here that was attended by the lawyers in a large number.

The meeting prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and provide courage to the bereaved family to bear the loss.

The participants of the meeting paid tributes to him and said that he was an upright judge and performed his duty with dedication.