ISLAMABAD: Justice Ali Baqar Najafi was sworn in as a judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday, following his nomination by the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) and subsequent appointment by President Asif Ali Zardari.
The Ministry of Law and Justice issued the official notification on Tuesday, confirming his elevation to the apex court. The notification stated:
“In exercise of the powers conferred under clause (1) of Article 177 read with clause (8) of Article 175A of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the President of Pakistan is pleased to appoint Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, Judge Lahore High Court, as Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan with effect from the date he makes oath of his office.”
Born on September 15, 1963, in Lahore, Justice Najafi began his academic journey at Government Muslim Model School, later earning a BSc from Government College, Lahore. He pursued his legal education at Punjab University Law College, obtaining his LLB in 1989.
Najafi launched his legal career in the same year, initially working under apprenticeship before joining his father, the late Ali Huzoor Najafi, a senior advocate of the Supreme Court. He was enrolled as an Advocate of the High Courts in 1990 and later admitted to practice before the Supreme Court.
With a career spanning over two decades at the Bar, Justice Najafi handled more than 1,000 cases, including landmark decisions. His legal expertise covers a broad spectrum including Constitutional, Civil, Criminal, Corporate, Banking, Customs, Narcotics, Labour, Anti-Corruption, Immigration, Islamic, and International Law. He was also known for his advocacy in public interest and human rights cases.
On April 16, 2012, he was elevated to the Lahore High Court, where he went on to hear over 37,000 cases across a wide range of legal areas—ranging from constitutional and civil matters to criminal, family, anti-corruption, and NAB cases. He served at the principal LHC seat as well as its regional benches in Multan, Rawalpindi, and Bahawalpur.
One of his most high-profile assignments was conducting the judicial inquiry into the Model Town incident of June 17, 2014, which resulted in the deaths of 14 individuals—a case that remains significant in Pakistan’s legal and political landscape.
Justice Najafi’s elevation to the Supreme Court marks another chapter in a distinguished legal career marked by diligence, integrity, and a commitment to justice.
