Balochistan High Court Explained

Court Name:Balochistan High Court
Imagesize2:225
Jurisdiction:Balochistan
Location:Principal Seat: Quetta
Circuit Benches: Sibi & Turbat
Type:Appointment by President on Judicial Commission recommendation.
Authority:Constitution of Pakistan
Appealsto:Supreme Court of Pakistan
Appealsfrom:District Courts of Balochistan
Terms:Till 62 years of age
Positions:15
Chiefjudgetitle:Chief Judge
Chiefjudgename:Justice Muhammad Hashim Kakar
Termstart:11 March 2024

The Balochistan High Court (Urdu: {{nq|عدالتِ عالیہ بلوچستان) is the highest judicial institution of Balochistan, Pakistan. The court is formally known as the High Court of Balochistan. It is situated in the provincial capital, Quetta.

Mir Ali Dost Bugti was the first judge of the Balochistan High Court. Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan is the current Chief Justice, having taken charge on 9 August 2021.[1]

Bar Council

The Balochistan Bar Council is a statutory & deliberative assembly of lawyers in Balochistan for safeguarding the rights, interests, and privileges of practicing lawyers within Balochistan province, Pakistan. The Council also regulates the conduct of lawyers and helps in the administration of justice. It has been constituted by Section 3(ii) of the Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils Act, 1973 of the constitution of Pakistan. All lower court and High Court lawyers within Balochistan are licensed with this council.The Balochistan Bar Council consists of a Vice Chairman, & Chairman Executive Committee, both elected by Members of the Balochistan Bar Council each year and these Members are elected by the advocates from four (04) Groups of different constituencies across Balochistan Province. Members serve a term of five years, beginning on January 1, with elections held each November to fill seats of those whose terms will expire in the following January. The Advocate General of Balochistan acts as ex-officio Chairman of the Balochistan Bar Council.

Justices of the Balochistan High Court

The Balochistan High Court is headed by a Chief Justice. The bench consists of Justices and additional judges. The retirement age of the Chief Justice and the Justices is 62 years. The Additional Judges are initially appointed for one year. After that, their services could either be extended or they could be confirmed or they are retired.

Current composition

The High Court of Balochistan is currently made up of the following Justices (in order of seniority).[2] In January 2018, the President of Pakistan increased the number of judges from eleven to fifteen.[3] [4]

No.NameAppointmentRetirementNote(s)
1Muhammad Hashim Kakar12 May 201117 September 2025Acting (yet to be confirmed by JCP)
2Muhammad Ejaz Swati30 August 20135 June 2025
3Muhammad Kamran Khan Mulakhail30 August 201318 January 2030
4Zaheer-ud-Din Kakar13 August 201622 April 2025
5Abdullah Baloch13 August 201614 March 2025
6Rozi Khan Barrech28 May 20196 April 2026
7Iqbal Ahmed Kasi7 July 202215 August 2026
8Shaukat Ali Rakhshani7 July 20223 August 2031
9Gul Hassan Tareen7 July 202223 June 2036
10Muhammad Aamir Nawaz Rana7 July 202220 November 2036
11Sardar Ahmed Haleemi7 July 202211 February 2037
12Vacant
13Vacant
14Vacant
15Vacant

PCO 25 March 1981

Did not take oath under the Provisional Constitutional Order, being the chief justice

Took oath under PCO to become the chief justice

PCO 26 January 2000

PCO 3 November 2007

List of retired judges

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2021-08-09 . Justice Afghan sworn in as new BHC CJ . 2022-11-12 . . en.
  2. Web site: Honourable Judges of BHC . 2022-11-13 . High Court of Balochistan.
  3. Web site: www.molaw.gov.pk/frmDetails.aspx. www.molaw.gov.pk. 2018-10-27.
  4. Web site: Malik . Hasnaat . 2018-01-26 . Federal ministry increases numbers of Balochistan High Court judges seats . 2022-11-12 . . en.