The Supreme Court announced several high-level administrative appointments on Saturday "aimed at ensuring operational continuity and promoting reform within the court’s administrative framework". According to an official statement, Sohail Mohammad Laghari, currently serving as Secretary of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), has been appointed SC Registrar on deputation in BS-22. Laghari is originally a District and Sessions Judge in the lower courts working under the Sindh High Court (SHC) and has previously served as the SHC Registrar. "[He] brings extensive experience in legal management and institutional administration," said the statement. Laghari has replaced SC Registrar Muhammad Salim Khan, who on October 30 resigned from his post citing personal reasons after completing his 45-day leave. In another appointment, Fakhar Zaman, a District and Sessions Judge under Peshawar High Court (PHC) has been appointed as Director General (Reforms) in SC on deputation also in BS-22. He is currently serving as the Additional Registrar (Administration) in the Supreme Court. According to the statement, Zaman brings over three decades of experience in institutional reform, policy innovation and legal education. The SJC Secretariat has requisitioned the services of Abid Rizwan Abid, a District and Sessions Judge under the Lahore High Court, for appointment as SJC Secretary (BS-22) on deputation. Muhammad Abbas Zaidi, currently serving as Deputy Registrar (Judicial) in BS-20, has been allotted the present charge of Additional Registrar (Judicial) (BS-21). Zulfikar Ahmed, a Deputy Registrar posted as Officer-in-Charge at SC Branch Registry in Karachi, has been assigned the current charge of Additional Registrar (BS-21) in the same registry. Mohammad Safdar Mehmood, a deputy registrar posted as officer-in-charge at SC Branch Registry in Lahore, has been allotted the current charge of additional registrar in the same registry. Mujahid Mehmood, a deputy registrar in the SC Branch Registry in Peshawar, has been allotted the current charge of additional registrar in the same registry. Fawad Ahmad, a Deputy Registrar, has been allotted the present charge of Additional Registrar and Sohail Ahmad, a Deputy Registrar (Administration) in BS-20, has been allotted the present charge of Additional Registrar (Administration) in BS-21.
"These appointments confirm the Supreme Court’s commitment to institutional reform, effective service delivery and strengthening of administrative structures that support the administration of justice," said the statement. Early retirement of ex-registrar After nearly a year of service, Muhammad Salim Khan last week resigned from his post as Supreme Court registrar. He tendered his resignation citing personal reasons. However, there are reports that some Supreme Court judges were not happy with him. According to an SC notification, Khan had gone on leave from September 16 to October 30 for private reasons. Khan had assumed charge as SC registrar on November 5 last year. A senior official stated that the registrar was appointed for a three-year term. "Going on 45 days leave suddenly and now giving notice reflects that it did not go well," added the official.
