LAHORE: Adviser to the prime minister on interior and accountability Mirza Shahzad Akbar on Thursday called on Lahore High Court Chief Justice-designate Muhammad Ameer Bhatti.

On his return after around a 20-minute meeting, Akbar told reporters he had come to congratulate senior puisne judge, Justice Bhatti, on his appointment as the next chief justice.

The adviser refused to take further media queries.

Chief Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan is going to superannuate on July 5.

President Arif Alvi has already issued a notification about the appointment of Justice Bhatti as the chief justice. He will take the oath of office on July 6.

It is unusual that a government’s representative overseeing the accountability process visits a judge to greet him on appointment as the chief justice.

A senior lawyer said normally the attorney general of Pakistan, advocate general concerned and law minister extend greetings to chief justice-designates. He said such visits by the government’s representatives should be avoided.

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2021