LAHORE: Justice Chaudhry Abdul Aziz of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday resigned from his office citing personal reasons.

He is the second LHC judge to resign during the last 12 months.

Last year, in February, Justice Shahid Jamil Khan had also tendered his resignation on identical grounds.

Justice Aziz submitted his resignation to the President of Pakistan, citing personal reasons for stepping down. He resigned under Article 206(1) of the Constitution and requested immediate acceptance.

“I was appointed as judge of Lahore High Court Lahore in November 2016 and since then I have been performing my duties,” the resignation said.

Justice Aziz said he had decided approximately 40,000 cases during his service, but on account of personal problems it had become difficult for him to hold the office of a judge.

A criminal law expert, Justice Aziz has been hearing criminal cases in particular.

Originally from Islamabad, he ranked 19thon the seniority list of the LHC judges. He was set to retire on Sept 8, 2033, upon reaching the age of 62.

A source in the LHC claimed that Justice Aziz wanted to resign from the office some years ago due to the health condition of one of his parents, but the then chief justice had persuaded him to change the decision.

In a recent decision, the judge had stayed any possible adverse action on the basis of a report of the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), which contained recommendations to deal with the blasphemy cases in Pakistan.

An office-bearer of Tahafuz-i-Khatam-i-Nabuwat Forum had challenged the NCHR report for 2023-24.

The report found notable disregard to due process in blasphemy cases with significant procedural violations at multiple stages.

It recommended the constitution of a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) through the Ministry of Human Rights, comprising officials from Special Branch, Intelligence Bureau, Ministries of Law, Interior, FIA, and other relevant departments to deal with the blasphemy cases. The commission called for strict disciplinary proceedings against the FIA officials involved in illegal arrests or soliciting bribes.

Published in Dawn, March 7th, 2025