ISLAMABAD – In a historic first, the newly appointed seven judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan took their oath at an outdoor ceremony in front of the apex court building on Friday.
Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi administered the oath to six permanent judges and one acting judge in an event held at the location where former CJP Qazi Faez Isa had previously inaugurated the fundamental rights monument. Traditionally, such ceremonies take place in the Ceremonial Hall of the Supreme Court, making this an unprecedented occasion.
Judges Who Took Oath:
- Justice Muhammad Hashim Khan Kakar
- Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui
- Justice Salahuddin Panhwar
- Justice Shakeel Ahmad
- Justice Aamer Farooq
- Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim
- Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb (Acting Judge)
The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) appointed these judges on February 10, a decision that came amid a boycott by two senior Supreme Court judges and opposition from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Delayed Oath-Taking Ceremony
Originally scheduled for Thursday, February 13, the ceremony was postponed due to a delay in issuing the official notification for the new appointments and the designation of acting Chief Justices for the Islamabad High Court (IHC), Peshawar High Court, Sindh High Court, and Balochistan High Court.
Meanwhile, Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori administered the oath to Justice Junaid Ghaffar, who was appointed as the acting Chief Justice of Sindh High Court (SHC).
This landmark event underscores judicial independence and the ongoing transformation of Pakistan’s legal landscape.
