ISLAMABAD: Justice Ayesha Malik made history on Monday by taking oath as the first female judge of the country’s top court after her appointment was endorsed by the Judicial Commission of Pakistan earlier this month.
Her elevation was proposed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed who also administered oath to her at the Supreme Court building in the federal capital.
Pakistan’s human rights minister Shireen Mazari described it as a “historical moment” for the country’s judiciary.
The country’s information minister Chaudhary Fawad Hussain also applauded the development while claiming it signified “women empowerment in Pakistan.”
“A powerful picture symbolizes the women empowerment in Pakistan,” he wrote in a Twitter post. “I hope she will be an asset to our Judicial hierarchy… Congratulations #JusticeAyeshaMalik a landmark elevation.”
The fourth most senior judge at the Lahore High Court, Justice Malik’s elevation was marred by controversy when several members of the legal community said it would be in violation of the seniority principle.
However, the Women in Law Pakistan initiative issued a statement last week, saying the idea that seniority was a legal requirement for such appointments was a “myth” while pointing out that there was no such requirement in the country’s constitution and law.
