RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) is functioning without a single judge for the first time since its establishment in 1981, as a delay in presidential approval for new judicial appointments has created an unprecedented crisis in the administration of justice across Punjab.

The deadlock has left the LHC registries in Rawalpindi, Multan and Bahawalpur without judges, forcing litigants to travel to the principal seat in Lahore at considerable expense. Currently, only four judges are available to hear cases at the principal seat during the current week.

LHC Bar Association President Saeed Yousaf Khan told Dawn that the Rawalpindi Bench, established in 1981, had historically maintained at least three or four judges even during summer vacations.

“This is the first time that no judge is available to hear cases at this registry,” he said, describing the situation as unprecedented.

Presidential delay in judicial appointments affects working of high court registries across Punjab

He added that the situation was equally critical at the Bahawalpur and Multan registries.

The LHC, Pakistan’s oldest and largest high court with a sanctioned strength of 60 judges, is facing an acute shortage. Sources said Chief Justice Aalia Neelum had approved leave for several judges since she was confident that newly appointed judges would take oath on July 27.

The Judicial Commission of Pakistan, headed by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, had approved the appointment of 10 additional judges to the LHC at its meeting on July 21.

However, the summary is still awaiting President Asif Ali Zardari’s approval, with the oath-taking ceremony, initially scheduled for July 27, now indefinitely postponed.

Sources said the new judges were expected to take oath on July 27 before being posted to the Rawalpindi, Multan and Bahawalpur benches along with a senior judge at each registry. However, after the matter unexpectedly stalled at the Presidency, the appointments could not be finalised, resulting in a severe shortage of judges this week.

According to sources, the President’s Office has conveyed reservations about some nominees, citing concerns that at least two judges-designate had previously been booked in criminal cases.

The government is reportedly weighing constitutional options under Article 48 if the delay continues.

Presidency officials, however, maintain that the president has discretion under Article 48(2) and is not bound by any constitutional timeframe to grant approval.

‘General body meeting’

A senior lawyer in Bahawalpur told Dawn that the district bar had convened a general body meeting to discuss the absence of judges at the registry.

He said the bar had demanded the immediate posting of judges, as litigants could not afford the additional travel expenses incurred by their counsel when appearing before the principal seat in Lahore, even for bail applications and habeas corpus petitions.

The delay has also affected appointments to the Islamabad, Sindh and Balochistan high courts, where a total of 19 additional judges are awaiting presidential approval. The JCP had recommended 10 judges for the LHC, three for the Islamabad High Court and six for the Sindh High Court, while leaving two vacancies unfilled.

Sources said the PPP leadership was dissatisfied with the JCP for not considering its preferred nominees, particularly for the Sindh High Court.

The party had proposed several candidates, but both judicial and executive members of the commission opposed the appointment of nominees below the age of 45.

Published in Dawn, July 30th, 2026