Three high court judges sworn-in as Supreme Court judges

ISLAMABAD: Three high court judges took oath as Supreme Court (SC) judges on Tuesday in a sworn-in ceremony held at the apex court in Islamabad.

President Asif Ali Zardari approved the elevation of three high court judges to the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday.

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa administered the oath to the incoming Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan, Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi, and Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan which brings the total number of Supreme Court justices to 17.

The ceremony was attended by the Supreme Court judges, the Attorney General, law officers, lawyers, and court staff.

According to an official notification issued by the Law Ministry on Monday, under Article 177 of the Constitution, the president sanctioned the appointment of Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi (Sindh High Court Chief Justice), Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmed Khan (Lahore High Court Chief Justice), and Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan (Lahore High Court judge) as judges of the Supreme Court.

Earlier this month, the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP), chaired by Chief Justice Isa, had recommended the elevations. The body is comprised of the CJP as its chairman, the two most senior judges of the SC, and the two most senior chief justices of High Courts as members.