# Balochistan High Court

The Balochistan High Court (Urdu: عدالتِ عالیہ بلوچستان) is the highest judicial institution of Balochistan, Pakistan. The court is formally known as the High Court of Balochistan. It is situated in the provincial capital, Quetta.
Mir Ali Dost Bugti was the first judge of the Balochistan High Court. Justice Muhammad Ejaz Swati is the current Chief Justice, having taken charge on 14 February 2025.

## Bar Council

The Balochistan Bar Council is a statutory & deliberative assembly of lawyers in Balochistan for safeguarding the rights, interests, and privileges of practicing lawyers within Balochistan province, Pakistan. The Council also regulates the conduct of lawyers and helps in the administration of justice. It has been constituted by Section 3(ii) of the Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils Act, 1973 of the constitution of Pakistan. All lower court and High Court lawyers within Balochistan are licensed with this council. The Balochistan Bar Council consists of a Vice Chairman, & Chairman Executive Committee, both elected by Members of the Balochistan Bar Council each year and these Members are elected by the advocates from four (04) Groups of different constituencies across Balochistan Province. Members serve a term of five years, beginning on January 1, with elections held each November to fill seats of those whose terms will expire in the following January. The Advocate General of Balochistan acts as ex-officio Chairman of the Balochistan Bar Council.

## Justices of the Balochistan High Court

The Balochistan High Court is headed by a Chief Justice. The bench consists of Justices and additional judges. The retirement age of the Chief Justice and the Justices is 62 years. The Additional Judges are initially appointed for one year. After that, their services could either be extended or they could be confirmed or they are retired.

### Current composition

The High Court of Balochistan is currently made up of the following Justices (in order of seniority). In January 2018, the President of Pakistan increased the number of judges from eleven to fifteen.
| No. | Name | Appointment | Retirement | Note(s) |
| 1 | Muhammad Ejaz Swati | 30 August 2013 | 5 June 2025 | Acting Chief Justice since 14 February 2025 |
| 2 | Muhammad Kamran Khan Mulakhail | 30 August 2013 | 18 January 2030 | Senior Puisne Judge since 14 February 2025 |
| 3 | Zaheer-ud-Din Kakar | 13 August 2016 | 22 April 2025 | |
| 4 | Rozi Khan Barrech | 28 May 2019 | 6 April 2026 | |
| 5 | Iqbal Ahmed Kasi | 7 July 2022 | 15 August 2026 | |
| 6 | Shaukat Ali Rakhshani | 7 July 2022 | 3 August 2031 | |
| 7 | Gul Hassan Tareen | 7 July 2022 | 23 June 2036 | |
| 8 | Muhammad Aamir Nawaz Rana | 7 July 2022 | 20 November 2036 | |
| 9 | Sardar Ahmed Haleemi | 7 July 2022 | 11 February 2037 | |
| 10 | Muhammad Ayub Khan | 20 January 2025 | 4 February 2038 | Additional Judge, subject to confirmation |
| 11 | Najam-ud-Din Mengal | 20 January 2025 | 31 December 2041 | Additional Judge, subject to confirmation |
| 12 | Vacant | | | |
| 13 | Vacant | | | |
| 14 | Vacant | | | |
| 15 | Vacant | | | |

### PCO 25 March 1981

* Khuda Bakhsh Marri: Did not take oath under the Provisional Constitutional Order, being the chief justice
* Zakaullah Lodhi: Took oath under PCO to become the chief justice
* Abdul Qadeer Chaudhri Took oath under PCO (on requests of fellow lawmakers and jurists)
* Mir Hazar Khan Khoso Took oath under PCO
* M.A. Rasheed also did not take oath under PCO

### PCO 26 January 2000

* Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry Took oath under PCO, was chief justice
* Javed Iqbal Took oath under PCO
* Raja Fayaz Ahmed Took oath under PCO
* Amanullah Khan Yasinzai Took oath under PCO
* Fazal ur Rehman Took oath under PCO

### PCO 3 November 2007

* Amanullah Khan Yasinzai took oath under PCO, was chief justice
* Ahmed Khan Lashari took oath under PCO
* Akhtar Zaman Malghani took oath under PCO
* Nadir Khan Durani took oath under PCO
* Mehta Kelash Nath took oath under PCO

### List of retired judges

* Khuda Bakhsh Marri 21-10-1970 25-03-1981
* Abdul Hayee Qureshi 07-02-1972 23-07-1978
* Mushtak Ali Kazi 18-09-1973 to 20-12-1979
* M.A Rasheed 08-10-1977 18-09-1978
* Zakaullah Lodhi 01-12-1976 19-10-1984
* Mir Hazar Khan Khoso 20-06-1977 29-09-1991
* Abdul Qadeer Chaudhary 20-06-1977 13-12-1989
* Muhammad Jaffar Naim 14-05-1981 23-02-1985
* Muftikhar-ud-Din 22-05-1982 09-03-1990
* Ajmal Mian 17-03-1980 29-03-1987
* Munawar Ahmed Mirza 31-03-1985 16-11-1996
* Nazir Ahmed Bhatti 03-04-1985 07-09-1987
* Amir-ul-Mulk Mengal 26-03-1986 22-04-1999
* Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary 06-04-1990 04-02-2000
* Muhammad Nawaz Marri 07-03-1996 07-01-2000
* Javed Iqbal 07-03-1996 28-04-2000
* Raja Fayyaz Ahmed 27-01-1997 14-09-2005
* Amanullah Khan 27-01-1997 5-08-2009
* Fazal-ur-Rahman 21.06.1999 12-04-2005
* Ahmed Khan Lashari 06-09-2000 5-08-2009
* Tariq Mehmood 06-09-2000 16-04-2002
* Akhtar Zaman 05-09-2002 5-08-2009
* Nadir Khan 05-09-2002 5-08-2009
* Kelash Nath 26-11-2004 5-08-2009