By Asif Naveed
ISLAMABAD; Justice Abhar Gul Khan, who recently made history by becoming the first woman appointed to the Lahore High Court (LHC) in the past ten years, is now facing serious allegations in a reference submitted to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC).
The reference, filed under Article 209 of the Constitution by Advocate Azeem Daniyal, a member of the Lahore High Court Bar Association, accuses Justice Khan of corruption, misuse of authority, bias, nepotism, and violation of judicial conduct.
It claims the charges are supported by official records, court notifications, and judicial orders. The document further highlights evidence of mismanagement and institutional irregularities during her tenure, raising questions about her judicial competence and citing “unconstitutional decisions” that have cast doubts over her ability to dispense justice.
Justice Abhar’s career, however, reflects a pioneering journey. Born in Lahore in 1972, she completed her LLB from Punjab University in 1995 and her LLM in 1998. She steadily rose through the ranks of the judiciary, serving as civil judge, senior civil judge, additional sessions judge, and sessions judge, before being elevated to the High Court.
Her appointment earlier this year was hailed as a milestone for women in the judiciary, as she became the second woman currently serving in the LHC, alongside Chief Justice Aalia Neelum, the first woman to head the court.
The reference has stirred debate, coming so soon after Justice Abhar’s historic elevation. Observers note that while her appointment was a breakthrough for gender representation, the allegations now place her judicial performance under intense scrutiny.
