On Tuesday, three High Court Judges, Justices Malik Shehzad Ahmed Khan, Justices Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi, and Justices Shahid Bilal Hassan, were officially sworn in as judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan at a ceremony in Islamabad.
The event was attended by Supreme Court judges, the Attorney General, law officers, lawyers, and court staff. The proceedings opened with a recitation from the Holy Quran, after which Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa administered the oath to the new judges.
President Asif Ali Zardari officially approved the appointments on Monday, following a notification from the Law Ministry. The notification confirmed Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi, Justice Malik Shehzad Ahmed Khan, and Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan as the new Supreme Court judges.
The Judicial Commission initially recommended these appointments. The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), which includes the Chief Justice of Pakistan as chairman and the two most senior Supreme Court judges and the two most senior chief justices of High Courts as members, oversees such recommendations.
Currently, 14 judges are actively serving in the SC under the guidance of the Supreme Judicial Council.