Seven New Judges Take Oath in Supreme Court Reshuffle

News Desk

Islamabad: The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) welcomed seven new judges on Friday as six regular judges and one ad hoc judge were sworn in during an oath-taking ceremony held in Islamabad.

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Yahya Afridi administered the oath to the newly appointed judges. The ceremony was attended by Supreme Court judges, the Attorney General, senior lawyers, journalists, judicial staff, and representatives from the Supreme Court Bar Association and Pakistan Bar Council.

The newly sworn-in judges include Justice Aamir Farooq, Justice Shafi Siddiqui, Justice Hashim Kakar, Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim, Justice Salahuddin, Justice Shakeel Ahmed, and Justice Gul Hassan—who joins as an ad hoc judge.

These appointments were approved by the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) during a meeting chaired by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi on February 10. The commission endorsed the elevation of six high court judges to the Supreme Court, including the Chief Justices of Sindh, Balochistan, and Peshawar High Courts.

Justice Gul Hassan was appointed as an ad hoc judge under Article 181 of the Constitution. However, the JCP meeting was not without controversy, as Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Munib Akhtar boycotted the session, while Barrister Ali Zafar, despite his initial objections, participated to express his reservations.

The latest judicial reshuffle marks a significant development in Pakistan’s top court, shaping the future of its legal landscape.