SC completes strength of 17 as three new judges sworn in

The bench of the Supreme Court (SC) is completed now as three elevated high courts judges have been sworn in as the Apex court judges on Tuesday.
According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, Chief Justice of SC Justice Qazi Faez Isa administered the oath in a ceremony attended by fellow Supreme Court judges, the Attorney General, and senior lawyers.
In the ceremony, Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmed Khan, Justice Shahid Bilal and Justice Aqeel Abbasi took oath as SC judges.
With these new appointments, the Supreme Court of Pakistan has achieved its full strength of 17 judges.
Yesterday, the Federal Law Ministry issued a notification regarding the elevation of Lahore and Sindh High Court’s Chief Justices and another senior judge to the SC.
The president approved the new appointments of the judges of the Apex Court under Article 177.
According to the notification, the Law Ministry has appointed Chief Justice Lahore High Court Malik Shahzad Ahmed Khan and Sindh High Court Chief Justice Shahid Bilal and Justice Aqeel Abbasi as SC judges.
On June 07, to fill the vacant positions and enhance the judiciary's capacity and strength, the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP)) has recommended the names of three high court judges for elevation to the Supreme Court.
Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Qazi Faez Isa chaired the JCP meeting and considered nine judges for the positions including six judges from the Lahore High Court (LHC) and three from the Sindh High Court (SHC).
LHC Chief Justice Justice Malik Shehzad Ahmad Khan who is first on the seniority list is recommended for the elevation to the apex court.
Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan who is fourth in the seniority list at the LHC is also recommended for the SC.
The JCP also recommended the third name of Justice Aqeel Abbasi who is the Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court (SHC).
After Lahore High Court’s Chief Justice Shahzad’s elevation, Justice Shujaat Ali Khan will perform duties as acting LHC CJ until the appointment to the top post while Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui was appointed as Acting Chief Justice of Sindh High Court.

Reporter: Amanat Gushkuri