Justice Bhatti to serve as LHC chief justice for 32 months

ISLAMABAD: The new Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court (LHC), Muhammad Ameer Bhatti, will hold the top slot for 32 months unless he is elevated to the Supreme Court before his retirement.

He will be superannuated on March 7, 2024 after attaining the constitutional retirement age for high court judges of 62. If he is elevated to the apex court before his retirement, he will have three additional years.

Following Justice Bhatti’s elevation as the LHC chief justice, Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan has become the puisne judge. He will become the LHC head after the retirement of Justice Bhatti and will serve till March 14, 2025. Justice Shujaat Ali Khan is now at number three of the seniority list of LHC judges.

After the retirement of Muhammad Qasim Khan as the LHC chief justice, the high court now comprises 49 judges with eleven vacancies as the LHC’s sanctioned strength is 60.

According to the LHC website, Justice Bhatti was born in Burewala, District Vehari on March 8, 1962. After his early education from Multan, he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Punjab. He subsequently opted for a legal education with a clear vision of the rule of law being the bedrock of a just, inclusive and peaceful society that makes institutions accountable and safeguards human rights.

His curriculum vitae shows that his intrinsic quest was fulfilled when he completed his law graduation in 1985 from the Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan. His longstanding aspiration was translated into reality when he embarked on his journey as a professional lawyer in 1986 and subsequently enrolled as an advocate of the high court in 1988. He pursued the legal profession diligently and endeared himself to the members of the bar due to his sheer respect for the values of the legal profession. As a result, the members of High Court Bar Association Multan elected him as its general secretary (1999-2000).

After an notable high court practice, Justice Bhatti became an advocate of the Supreme Court in 2001. In addition to his professional services in Pakistan, he remained a member of the International Bar Association London (1991-1994) and the American Bar Association (2000-2002). For his diligence and continuous commitment towards the profession of law over almost 25 years, he was elevated to the LHC as an additional judge on May 12, 2021.

Before his appointment as LHC judge, Justice Bhatti participated in an international law conference in Hong Kong in 1991; imparted legal education at the Multan Law College from 1989 to 1991; was legal advisor to various government and non-government organizations, including the Water & Power Development Authority (Wapda), House Building Finance Corporation (HBFC) and Multan Development Authority (MDA), and successfully conducted innumerable cases pertaining to civil, criminal, constitutional, tax, election, settlement, and service matters.

Justice Bhatti has several reported judgments in various cases to his credit. He worked as the inspection judge of districts of Khanewal, Chakwal, Sargodha, Sialkot, Sahiwal, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad and Lahore. He was member of administrative committee of the anti-terrorism courts (ATCs); departmental examination committee; audit committee; district judiciary building committee; library committee; expunction of adverse remarks committee; committee for recommendation/implementation; administration committee; performa promotion recommendation committee for district judiciary; departmental confirmation committee for district judiciary; enrollment committee for advocates/officers/officials of LHC, district judiciary& employees of other departments; committee for supervision and maintenance of museum; administrative committee, rules committee; perks & privileges/pension committee (for permanent/confirmed judges); and committee for grant of fitness certificate for enrolment as advocate of the Supreme Court; University of Punjab syndicate; and President of rules committee (CPC); administrative judge of labour court, Lahore Development Authority (LDA) tribunal, Punjab revenue appellate tribunal, banking court (recovery of loans) and official receivers. Presently, he was administrative/monitoring judge of ATC & accountability court; and a member of the Islamia University Bahawalpur syndicate.