PESHAWAR: Two additional judges of the Peshawar High Court, including Justice Mohammad Daud Khan and Justice Syed Afsar Shah, on Monday took oath as regular judges increasing the court’s strength to 14.

PHC Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel administered the oath to the two judges.

The two, who served as additional judges since March 26, 2013, were recently confirmed by the president of Pakistan on the recommendation of the judicial commission and the parliamentary committee for appointment of judges.

The oath taking ceremony was attended by judges of the high court, Peshawar district and sessions judges, cabinet members of Peshawar High Court Bar association and Peshawar district bar Associations, lawyers and others.

Presently, the high court has 18 judges against the sanctioned strength of 20.

The number of confirmed judges is 14, whereas four judges are working as additional judges.

Justice Mohammad Daud Khan was born in Dera Ismail Khan on Aug 1, 1954.

He did his LLB from Gomal University, DI Khan in 1981 and was enrolled with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council the same year. He was enrolled as advocate of the high court in 1983 and that of the Supreme Court in 2008.

Justice Mohammad Daud Khan was twice elected as the president of District Bar Association, DI Khan and was also elected as president of PHC Bar Association, DI Khan Bench. During the lawyers movement, Justice Mohammad Daud was twice sent to the prison under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, first in 2997 and then in 2009.

He had also remained in prison during the martial law of General Ziaul Haq in 1983 and 1985.

Justice Syed Afsar Shah was born on Sept 1, 1957, in Peshawar. He was elevated to the high court from the judicial service. Je initially served as civil judge from 1983 till 1987 when he was promoted as senior civil judge.

Justice Syed Afsar Shah served on that post till 1992 and was promoted as additional district and sessions judge and subsequently in July 1998 he was promoted as district and sessions judge.

During his judicial career, he had served against different key posts.— Bureau Report

Published in Dawn, March 17th, 2015

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