LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday withdrew the transfer order of a district and sessions judge who is currently presiding over an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore and conducting jail trials related to the May 9 riots.
According to official notifications, LHC Registrar Amjad Iqbal Ranjha had issued a transfer order on January 6, directing the transfer of two district and sessions judges, including Arshad Javed, the presiding judge of ATC-III, Lahore. Under that order, Judge Javed was repatriated from Lahore to Bahawalnagar, where he was to replace District and Sessions Judge Asif Bashir.
Judge Asif Bashir, under the same notification, had been transferred from Bahawalnagar to Lahore and posted as an officer on special duty (OSD) at the Lahore sessions court against a newly created position. Both judicial officers were directed to assume their new responsibilities on or before January 9.
However, on Wednesday, the LHC registrar issued a fresh notification withdrawing the transfer orders of both judges with immediate effect. As a result, Judge Arshad Javed will continue to serve as the presiding judge of ATC-III, Lahore, while Judge Asif Bashir will remain at his previous posting.
Judge Arshad Javed was posted at ATC-III in September 2023 and has since overseen a number of high-profile cases linked to the violent protests that erupted on May 9 last year. During this period, he awarded sentences to several leaders and workers of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) in multiple cases arising from the riots.
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At present, Judge Javed is conducting jail trials in several remaining May 9 cases, many of which are reported to be near completion. His sudden transfer earlier this week had drawn attention in legal circles due to the advanced stage of proceedings in those cases. The withdrawal of the transfer order is expected to ensure continuity in the trials currently under way.
Separately, the Lahore High Court also issued another notification on Wednesday announcing the transfer and posting of four other district and sessions judges. Under this order, Ali Nawaz was transferred from his position as OSD at Lahore to Layyah. Naeem Sheikh was posted from the Special Court (Central-I) Gujranwala to Chiniot.
Both judicial officers were directed to assume their new charge on or before Jan 9.https://t.co/FYq1NbRgxE
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) January 8, 2026
Meanwhile, Shahida Saeed was transferred from Chiniot to Lahore as OSD at the sessions court, and Jazeela Aslam was posted from Layyah to Lahore in the same capacity. These transfers were made as part of routine administrative reshuffling within the judicial system.
No official reason was provided for either the withdrawal of the earlier transfer orders or the fresh postings announced on Wednesday.
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