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  A spokesperson has confirmed that Justice Shahid Karim is currently ranked sixth on the seniority list of judges serving at the Lahore High Court. His position on the seniority roster reflects his extensive judicial experience and years of service within Pakistan’s higher judiciary. According to the spokesperson, Justice Shahid Karim has been hearing cases related to smog prevention and environmental pollution for the past several years. During this period, he has presided over numerous hearings concerning environmental protection, air quality, and measures aimed at reducing the harmful effects of smog, particularly in Punjab. His courtroom has become a focal point for addressing environmental issues that have increasingly affected public health and the quality of life in the province. Justice Karim has been widely recognized for taking an active interest in environmental matters. Under his supervision, various government departments have been directed to implement policies and practical measures to tackle air pollution and improve environmental standards. His hearings have often involved officials from environmental agencies, local governments, industries, and other stakeholders responsible for ensuring compliance with environmental regulations. The issue of smog has become one of the most pressing environmental challenges in Pakistan, especially during the winter months, when air quality deteriorates significantly due to industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, crop residue burning, and unfavorable weather conditions. Through his judicial oversight, Justice Shahid Karim has consistently emphasized the need for coordinated action among government institutions to protect public health and reduce environmental degradation. The spokesperson further stated that Justice Shahid Karim’s retirement will create another vacancy in the Lahore High Court. Following his retirement, the total number of vacant judicial positions at the court will rise to 21. This increase in vacancies is expected to place additional pressure on the existing judges, who already manage a heavy workload involving thousands of pending civil, criminal, constitutional, and administrative cases. Judicial vacancies are a matter of concern because they can contribute to delays in the disposal of cases and increase the burden on the remaining members of the bench. Legal experts have frequently stressed the importance of filling vacant judicial positions promptly to ensure timely access to justice and maintain the efficient functioning of the court system. The retirement of a senior judge such as Justice Shahid Karim is also significant because of the experience and expertise he brings to the judiciary. Over the years, he has handled a wide range of important legal matters, but his role in environmental litigation has particularly distinguished his judicial career. His decisions and observations have highlighted the importance of environmental conservation, sustainable development, and government accountability in addressing pollution-related challenges. With his departure from the bench, authorities are expected to initiate the process of appointing new judges to fill the growing number of vacancies in the Lahore High Court. These appointments will be important in ensuring that the court continues to function effectively and that the backlog of pending cases does not increase further. Justice Shahid Karim’s retirement marks the end of an important chapter in the Lahore High Court’s judicial history. His contributions, particularly in the field of environmental justice and smog control, have had a lasting impact on legal and policy discussions surrounding environmental protection in Pakistan. As the Lahore High Court prepares for this transition, the appointment of qualified judges will be essential to maintaining the efficiency, credibility, and effectiveness of the judicial system.

  The Lahore High Court has overturned the decisions of two lower courts that had directed the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) to issue Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs) to two individuals despite questions regarding their citizenship. The ruling reinforces that disputes involving suspected citizenship fall within the jurisdiction of NADRA’s verification mechanism rather than civil courts. Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani issued a detailed written judgment after allowing NADRA’s appeals against the decisions of the lower courts. In the judgment, the court clarified that civil courts do not have the legal authority to decide cases involving disputed or questionable citizenship. Instead, such matters must be addressed through the procedures established under the relevant laws governing nationality verification. According to the written decision, individuals whose identity cards have been blocked or whose citizenship status has been questioned must approach the NADRA Verification Board within 30 days. The High Court further directed the Verification Board to examine each case and issue a decision in accordance with the law within 60 days of receiving the application. The judgment explains that NADRA had challenged the rulings issued by the Senior Civil Judge in Sialkot and the Sessions Judge, who had ordered the authority to issue national identity cards to two citizens despite concerns regarding the authenticity of their Pakistani citizenship. The High Court concluded that these lower courts exceeded their legal jurisdiction by issuing such directives. Justice Kayani emphasized in the written ruling that obtaining a national identity card is a fundamental right of every eligible Pakistani citizen. However, the court also stressed that this right must be exercised in accordance with the law and only after citizenship has been properly verified through the legally prescribed process.   The respondents maintained before the court that they were Pakistani citizens by birth and therefore entitled to receive national identity cards. They argued that NADRA had incorrectly classified them as foreign nationals and subsequently blocked their CNICs, depriving them of an essential legal document required for everyday civic and economic activities. NADRA, on the other hand, presented documentary evidence supporting its decision to classify the individuals as non-citizens pending verification. According to the High Court’s judgment, the authority’s documentary evidence was found to be reliable and credible. The court observed that the respondents failed to produce sufficient evidence to establish their claim of Pakistani citizenship. The judgment further states that the lower courts overlooked significant documentary evidence and failed to apply the relevant legal principles before directing NADRA to issue the identity cards. As a result, the High Court held that these legal errors warranted judicial intervention. Justice Kayani noted that the High Court has the constitutional authority to correct legal mistakes committed by subordinate courts. Exercising this authority, the court declared both lower court decisions null and void, thereby allowing NADRA’s appeals. The ruling establishes an important legal precedent regarding the resolution of citizenship disputes in Pakistan. It clarifies that while access to a national identity card is a fundamental right, questions relating to citizenship must first be determined through NADRA’s statutory verification process rather than through civil litigation. The decision also seeks to ensure consistency in handling citizenship-related cases by directing affected individuals to the NADRA Verification Board and requiring the board to decide such matters within a specified timeframe. This approach aims to balance the protection of citizens’ rights with the need to maintain the integrity and accuracy of Pakistan’s national identity registration system.