ISLAMABAD: Breaking centuries-old tradition, Justice Syeda Tahira Safdar took oath as the first woman chief justice of Balochistan high court on Saturday.
Governor Muhammad Khan Achakzai administered the oath of office at the Governor House in Quetta, capital of the southwestern province.
Her appointment was announced last month by Saqib Nisar, the chief justice of Pakistan's Supreme Court.
Justice Safdar --- also the first woman civil judge to be appointed in Balochistan -- replaces provincial chief justice Mohammad Noor Muskanzai, who retired yesterday.
Daughter of Syed Imtiaz Hussain Baqri Hanafi, a renowned lawyer, Justice Safdar was born on October 5, 1957, in Quetta.
“Justice Safdar completed her Masters in Urdu Literature from the University of Balochistan and her degree in Law from the University Law College of Quetta in 1980,” a statement released by the high court read.
She began her career as a civil judge on April 22, 1982. She was promoted to the position of additional judge of Balochistan’s high court on September 7, 2009 and later confirmed as the judge on May 11, 2011.
“Justice Safdar was one of the three judges of the special court constituted under Section 4 Criminal Law Amendment (Special Court) Act 1976 for trial of offence of High Treason against ex-president General Pervez Musharraf,” the statement read.
Musharraf, who seized power in October 1999, was in authority till 2008 and is currently living in self-imposed exile. He is undergoing trial in a number of high-profile cases including being charged for treason for imposing a state of emergency on November 3, 2007.
First woman chief justice takes charge in Balochistan
First woman chief justice takes charge in Balochistan
- Justice Syeda Tahira Safdar was also the first civil judge to be appointed in the province
- She completed her degree in law from the University Law College of Quetta in 1980
Pakistan air chief meets Indonesian president, pushes training and defense cooperation
- PAF has been promoting combat-tested credentials after last year’s standoff with India
- Indonesian officials seek support in strengthening professional and flying training
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s air chief, Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, met Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta to discuss expanded cooperation in professional training and defense production, according to a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) statement issued on Friday.
The visit comes as Pakistan’s military highlights its operational experience and aerospace capabilities following a four-day conflict with India in May last year, in which Islamabad claimed victory after saying the PAF shot down at least six Indian fighter aircraft, including the French-made Rafale.
New Delhi acknowledged weeks later it had suffered some losses but did not specify a number.
“Upon his arrival, the Air Chief was received by the Indonesian President at the Presidential Complex in Jakarta,” the PAF said, adding that Sidhu “expressed his unwavering commitment to enhance the existing bilateral ties in Air Force-to-Air Force cooperation with Indonesia, especially in the fields of training, Air Defense and defense production.”
During the air chief’s meetings with Indonesian military officials, the two sides discussed joint training initiatives from basic to advanced levels, professional exchange programs and collaboration in aerospace domains, including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, cyber, space and unmanned systems.
Indonesia’s air chief expressed interest in drawing on the operational experience of PAF pilots and sought support in strengthening professional and flying training, the statement said.
Pakistan’s air force has promoted its JF-17 fighter jet since the conflict with India, pitching it as a combat-tested aircraft. The PAF has also highlighted its multi-domain capabilities and offered to train counterparts in other countries, citing lessons from recent operations.
The Indonesian leadership praised the PAF’s progress in aerospace research, design and technological development, according to the statement, and expressed interest in leveraging Pakistan’s training ecosystem and aerospace infrastructure.
At the conclusion of his meeting with his Indonesian counterpart, Sidhu was awarded the Medal of Honour, the service’s highest military award, in recognition of efforts to strengthen bilateral air power collaboration.
