PESHAWAR: Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel on Tuesday took oath as 22nd chief justice of Peshawar High Court (PHC) here at Governor’s House.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Eng Shaukatullah administered oath to the new PHC chief justice at a ceremony, which was also attended by Chief Minister Parvez Khattak.

Besides the judges of PHC, the ceremony was also attended by provincial ministers, senior government officials, senior lawyers and relatives of the new PHC chief justice.

The President of Pakistan has appointed Justice Miankhel as chief justice of the high court on the recommendation of Judicial Commission for appointment of Judges and the Parliamentary Committee on the retirement of Justice Mian Fasihul Mulk, who laid down his robes on April 7.

Born in the southern Dera Ismail Khan district on July 14, 1957, Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel was elevated to the high court as an additional judge on Sept 7, 2009. He was made permanent judge of the high court on Sept 5, 2011. He will retire as a judge of the high court on July 13, 2019. In case of his elevation to the Supreme Court, he will retire in July 2022.

The PHC chief justice did his LLB from Gomal University DI Khan in 1982 and the same year he was enrolled as an advocate of the lower courts. He was enrolled as advocate of the high court and Supreme Court of Pakistan in 1984 and 2003, respectively.

During his career as an advocate, the PHC chief justice also remained vice president and secretary of DI Khan District Bar Association and vice president and secretary of High Court Bar Association, DI Khan bench. Justice Miankhel also served as member of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council twice.

The new PHC chief justice enjoys a lot of respect among the legal circles. As a judge, he is known for delivering judgments without any fear or favour.