Mussarat Hilali takes oath as SC Judge

ISLAMABAD: Justice Mussarat Hilali was sworn in as a Supreme Court judge Friday, making her the second woman since Pakistan’s independence to be elevated to the apex court.

Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial administered the oath to Justice Hilali at the top court in a ceremony attended by SC judges, Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan, and members of the legal fraternity.

With her appointment, the top court now has a total of 16 judges, with one slot vacant.

Justice Hilali — the first woman chief justice of Peshawar High Court — will serve as the top court’s judge for a period of three years before her retirement. She was also the first woman to become the CJ of any high court in the country.

Justice Ayesha A Malik became the first woman to be elevated to the top court in 2022.