Ameer Bhatti sworn in as LHC top judge

LAHORE: Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar on Tuesday swore in Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti as the 51st Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court (LHC) in a ceremony at the Governor’s House. His predecessor, Muhammad Qasim Khan retired as LHC chief justice on July 5.

Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, law minister Raja Basharat, housing minister Mian Mehmood ur Rasheed, Corps Commander Lahore Lt-Gen Muhammad Abdul Aziz, Naval Station Commander Lahore Capt Amir Iqbal Khan PN, aide Firdous Ashiq Awan, Punjab Inspector General of Police Inam Ghani, judges of the LHC, Vice Chairman Pakistan Bar Council (PBC), President, office bearers of Lahore High Court Bar Association, and a host of legal luminaries were present on the occasion. Punjab Chief Secretary Jawad Malik read the order of appointment of the new LHC Chief Justice.

Justice Bhatti was born on March 8, 1962 and his date of retirement is March 7, 2024. Bhatti was born at Burewala, District Vehari. After his early education from Multan, he obtained degree of Bachelor of Arts from the University of Punjab. He completed his LLB in 1985 from Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU) Multan.

He embarked on his journey as professional lawyer in the year 1986 and subsequently enrolled as an Advocate High Court in 1988. He was elected as General Secretary of the High Court Bar Association Multan in 1999.

He became Advocate Supreme Court of Pakistan in 2001. In addition to his professional services in Pakistan, he remained member of International Bar Association London (1991-1994) and member of the American Bar Association (ABA) 2000-2002. After a career in law spanning over almost 25 years, Justice Bhatti was elevated to Lahore High Court as an additional judge on May 12, 2011.