Justice Shahid Kareem, widely regarded as one of the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) most proactive judges on climate change and environmental protection, is set to retire on August 19, 2026, marking the end of a judicial tenure closely associated with landmark rulings against smog and environmental degradation.
According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, the retirement schedule of three other Lahore High Court judges has also been officially announced, all of whom will retire in 2026 upon reaching the constitutional retirement age of 62 years.
Justice Shahid Kareem was appointed as a judge of the Lahore High Court on November 7, 2014, and currently ranks eighth on the court’s seniority list.
During his tenure, he presided over several high-profile cases related to climate change, air pollution and smog, issues that have long posed serious threats to public health, particularly in Lahore.
Legal observers credit his firm and sustained judicial interventions with pushing the Punjab government to adopt more effective anti-smog measures. As a result, this year’s smog season caused significantly less disruption to daily life in Lahore compared to previous years.
Among the other judges set to retire, Justice Shujat Ali Khan will step down on April 22, 2026. Appointed to the Lahore High Court on March 27, 2012, he currently stands second on the seniority list.
Justice Asjad Javed Ghural is scheduled to retire on April 29, 2026. He was appointed on November 26, 2016, and is presently ranked 13th in seniority.
Justice Masood Abid Naqvi will retire on July 4, 2026. He was appointed on November 7, 2014, and currently holds the seventh position on the seniority list.