The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) has considered the promotion of Justice Aalia Neelum to the position of the next Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court (LHC).

Justice Shujaat Ali Khan is the senior-most judge in the LHC, while Justice Neelum is third in the seniority list after the recent elevation of incumbent LHC CJ Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan and Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan to the Supreme Court.

Though it is not constitutionally required, the senior-most judge has typically been appointed as the Chief Justice since the 18th Amendment in 2010. However, prior to that, some junior judges had at times been elevated over their more senior counterparts.

According to a report in the Express Tribune, the JCP members had an extensive informal discussion on Friday about the appointment of the next LHC Chief Justice. Two JCP members confirmed that the commission unanimously agreed not to consider the two senior-most judges, Justice Shujaat Ali Khan and Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, for the position.

Read more: JCP gives nod to elevation of BHC Chief Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan to SC

Instead, the JCP informally decided to appoint Justice Aalia Neelum as the next LHC Chief Justice. Justice Shujaat Ali Khan may serve as the acting Chief Justice for some time. However, an official JCP meeting will soon be called to formally nominate the new LHC Chief Justice.

However, some government factions are still lobbying for the elevation of Justice Najafi.

If appointed, Justice Neelum will serve as the LHC Chief Justice until November 2028. Known for her expertise in criminal law, she will be the first female Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court.