PHC Chief Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth dies of coronavirus

A spokesperson for the court confirmed that PHC Chief Justice Waqar Ahmed Seth has passed away at age of 59. "He was battling coronavirus and succumbed to the deadly illness earlier today," the spokesperson added.

The PHC's top judge was undergoing treatment at Islamabad's Kulsum International Hospital.

Justice Seth had led the special court bench that announced the verdict against former military dictator Pervez Musharraf in the high treason case.

It is pertinent to mention here that Waqar Ahmad Seth was appointed the chief justice of the PHC on 28 June 2018.

His funeral prayers will be offered at Karnal Sher Khan Stadium at 2pm on Friday.

Earlier this month, he had filed a petition in the Supreme Court of Pakistan seeking elevation to the apex court.

Alleging being overlooked for the top court, Seth highlighted in the petition that he was the senior most judge in all the high courts of the country.

Lawyer community and people from different walks of lives have expressed sorrow over the demise of the judge.

Education and Career

Born in Dera Ismail Khan in 1961, he completed his LLB from Khyber Law College, Peshawar in 1985 and did M.A. (Political Science) from the University of Peshawar in 1986.

He started his career in December 1985 when he was enrolled as an advocate in the lower courts.

Seth was enrolled as an advocate of the high court on March 22, 1990 while he became an advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan in 2008.

His judicial career incepted on August 2, 2011, when he was appointed as an additional judge of the PHC.