Hon'ble Judges Hailed/Elevated from Bahawalpur Division
Bahawalpur is the 11th largest city of Pakistan. It is situated at the edge of Cholistan desert, about 424 kms to the Southwest of Lahore. Bahawalpur was the first amongst the former princely states of British Raj, to accede to Pakistan in October 1947. The affluent state of Bahawalpur was founded in 1727 by Nawab Bahawal Khan. Bahawalpur was the capital of the state that was ruled by the Abbasi family of Nawabs until 1955. The city possesses distinct history, heritage and cultural identity. It is a city of palaces. Noor Mahal, Darbar Mahal, Farukh Mahal, Nishat Mahal and Gulzar mahal are world famous for their architectural beauty and provide ample testimony to the grandeur and rich aesthetic sense of the Abbasi rulers. Derawer fort is the 9th century monument built by Rai Jajja Bhati, the ruler of Bhati clan. Lal Suhanra National Park is spread over an area of 162568 acres and is situated some 35 kms east of Bahawalpur. The objectives of the national park include conservation of native flora & fauna especially the endangered animals like Chinkara, Blackbuck and Blue bull.
At the time of partition the State had a fully functional High Court, Baghdad Ul Jaded that was established in 1837 by replacing the erstwhile Chief Court that had been functioning since 1866. On October 7, 1955, through the Establishment of West Pakistan Act, 1955, the State was merged into the One Unit; one province comprising all the provinces and states falling in the West Pakistan. The High Court of West Pakistan (Establishment) Order, 1955 replaced the existing High Court of the State, by turning it into the High Court of West Pakistan, Bahawalpur Circuit.
The situation again changed by the dissolution of the Province of West Pakistan, so by the consequential legislation, the High Court (Establishment) Order, 1970, the High Court of West Pakistan ceased to exist and in relation to the Province of Punjab, under the Province of West Pakistan (Dissolution) Order, 1970, a High Court Called the Lahore High Court with its Principal Seat at Lahore was established. This newly created Court had a Circuit Court at Bahawalpur called Lahore High Court, Bahawalpur Circuit that continued to function till 1st January, 1981.
On January 01, 1981, by the High Courts (Establishment) Order (Punjab Amendment) Ordinance, 1 of 1981, permanent Benches of the Lahore High Court were established with immediate effect at Bahawalpur, Multan and Rawalpindi. The then Chief Justice Lahore High Court, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Shamim Hussain Qadri, through notification date Jan 05, 1981, nominated Hon’ble Mr. Justice Munawar Elahi Rana, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Gul Muhammad Khan and Mr. Justice Mohammad Rafiq Tarrar to constitute Bench at Bahawalpur. Contrary to Rawalpindi and Multan Benches of the Lahore High Court, the previous premises of the Bagdad ul Jadeed High Court were already with Lahore High Court, where circuit Benches used to sit. The same building was used to house the new Bench. Hon’ble Mr. Justice Gul Muhammad Khan on January 10, 1981 presided at the reference to inaugurate the permanent Bench of Lahore High Court at Bahawalpur.
