RAWALPINDI, Dec 31: The Lahore High Court faces a shortage of 14 judges, as it is working with 36 judges against the sanctioned strength of 50.

Out of these 36 judges, three will be retiring in 2007.

Justice Akhtar Shabbir, Justice Sayeed Akhtar and Justice Farrukh Mehmood will retire in March, May and June, respectively.

Justice Sheikh Abdul Rashid retired in 2006, whereas Justice Nazir Ahmad Siddiqui and Justice Mohammad Nawaz Bhatti were killed in the Fokker crash near Multan.

Besides, Justice Ali Nawaz Chohan has become member of the International Tribunal for War Crimes.

Five new judges - Justice Sajjad Hussain Shah, Justice Tariq Shamim, Justice Syed Asghar Haider, Justice Hasnat Ahmad Khan and Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rehman - were appointed in 2006.

Due to shortage of judges, thousands of cases are pending for adjudication in the court for the last many years.—PPI