Justice Raheel Kamran Sheikh steps down from Lahore High Court
Justice Raheel Kamran Sheikh submitted his resignation while serving as a judge of the Lahore High Court. His decision brings an unexpected change to the composition of the high court.
The resignation letter has been sent to the President of Pakistan for the required process. No further details about the personal reasons mentioned in the letter were provided.
Justice Sheikh was serving at number 27 on the Lahore High Court’s seniority list before his resignation. He had been appointed to the high court bench in May 2021.
Justice Sheikh’s judicial career
Justice Raheel Kamran Sheikh joined the Lahore High Court on May 7, 2021. He was scheduled to remain on the bench for several more years, with his retirement date set for January 20, 2036.
His resignation therefore comes well before the end of his expected judicial career. The move is likely to affect the seniority position and future administrative arrangements within the Lahore High Court.
Justice Sheikh had been part of the high court for more than five years. During this period, he dealt with cases involving different areas of law.
His professional background was also broad before joining the judiciary. He had developed experience in several important legal fields during his career at the bar.
Strong legal background before joining LHC
Justice Raheel Kamran Sheikh is the son of senior lawyer Akram Sheikh. His father previously served as president of the Supreme Court Bar Association and is a well-known figure in Pakistan’s legal community.
Before his appointment as a judge, Justice Sheikh practised in a number of areas of law. His professional work included human rights and public law matters.
He also had experience dealing with white-collar crime cases. His practice further covered commercial law, taxation and regulatory matters.
This wide legal experience provided him with exposure to both public and private legal disputes. His background also included areas that frequently involve complex questions of law and government regulation.
The resignation now marks a significant development in his judicial career. However, the available information does not indicate any reason beyond the personal grounds mentioned in his resignation.
Also Read:Yasin Malik refuses to continue case, submits 25-page affidavit
What happens after the resignation?
Justice Sheikh’s resignation has been submitted to the President of Pakistan, who is the relevant constitutional authority for the formal acceptance process.
Once the resignation is formally accepted, the Lahore High Court will have another vacant judicial position. The vacancy can later be filled through the established judicial appointment process.
The development may also bring changes to the court’s seniority list. Other judges could move upward depending on how the list is revised after the vacancy.
For now, the key development is Justice Raheel Kamran Sheikh’s decision to step down. The resignation comes nearly 15 years before his scheduled retirement in 2036.
