LAHORE: Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti on Tuesday took oath as the 51st chief justice of the Lahore High Court at a ceremony held at the Governor House.

Governor Chaudhry Sarwar administered the oath to Justice Bhatti.

Chief Minister Usman Buzdar also graced the occasion.

LHC senior puisne judge Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmed Khan and other senior judges, Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari, Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat, Special Assistant to CM on Information Firdous Ashiq Awan, federal and provincial law officers, corps commander of Lahore, Punjab IGP, judicial officers and relatives of the chief justice were also present.

Chief Secretary Jawad Rafique read out the notification of the appointment of Chief Justice Bhatti.

After taking the oath, Chief Justice Bhatti was presented the guard of honour on arrival at the LHC. If not elevated to the Supreme Court, Justice Bhatti will remain the LHC chief justice till his superannuation on March 4, 2024.

In a first administrative decision, Chief Justice Bhatti transferred registrar Malik Mushtaq Ahmad Ojla and appointed District and Sessions Judge Irfan Ahmad Saeed as new registrar.

Through a notification, additional registrar Muhammad Yar Walana has been transferred from the LHC Multan bench and posted as principal staff officer to the chief justice.

D&SJ Masood Arshad has been transferred and posted from an anti-terrorism court of Multan to the LHC as director general of directorate of district judiciary.

Published in Dawn, July 7th, 2021