Justice Athar Minallah takes oath as Chief Justice of IHC

ISLAMABAD: Justice Athar Minallah on Wednesday sworn in as the Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court (IHC) in a ceremony at President House here.

President Arif Alvi administered the oath of office to Justice Athar Minallah.

Justice Minallah took oath as the new Chief Justice of IHC after Justice Anwar Khan Kasi attained the age of superannuation and retired on Tuesday.

After retirement of Justice Anwar Kasi, the judges strength in IHC goes down to four, three lesser then the total number of judges in the high court.

The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar had approved the name of Justice Athar Minallah as the new Chief Justice of the IHC in a meeting on 1st November.

The Parliamentary Committee on Appointment of Judges (PCAJ) later accorded approval of Justice Minallah’s name as the new chief justice of the Islamabad High Court.

The approval by the JCP and the Parliament’s panel, were sent to the President for his endorsement of the decision. On November 14, Justice Minallah was notified as the next chief justice of the high court after President Arif Alvi had approved his appointment.

Justice Athar Minallah was appointed IHC judge in June 2014 and is considered as one of the finest judges of the superior judiciary.

Justice Minallah will be the third chief justice of the Islamabad High Court since it was established in January 2011.