ISLAMABAD, NOV 11 (DNA) — Three newly-appointed judges of the Supreme Court were sworn in on Friday by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar Ata Bandial, taking the total strength of the apex court judges to 15.

The three judges who were elevated to the Supreme Court were Justice Athar Minallah (Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court), Justice Syed Hassan Azhar Rizvi (Judge of Sindh High Court) and Justice Shahid Waheed (Judge of Lahore High Court).

The oath-taking ceremony of the newly-appointed judges was held at the Ceremonial Hall, Supreme Court of Pakistan, in Islamabad. Two seats of the Supreme Court judges, however, are still lying vacant.

A large number of guests including judges of Supreme Court, Attorney General for Pakistan, secretaries of Ministry of Law and Justice, officials of Federal Judicial Academy, Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan and Pakistan Bar Council, National Accountability Court, Supreme Court Bar Association, senior advocates, advocates-on-record and officers and staff of the apex court.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, being the chairman of the commission, had approved the elevation of three judges of high courts to the Supreme Court.

After the commission recommended the elevation of these three judges, their names were referred to the parliamentary committee on the appointment of judges in superior courts. The parliamentary committee had also approved the elevation of these judges to the Supreme Court and, thereafter, the president of Pakistan had also approved their elevation to the apex court.

The senior-most judge of the Islamabad high Court (IHC), Justice Aamer Farooq, was also administered the oath of office by President Arif Alvi. His oath-taking ceremony was held at the President House in Islamabad and was attended by senior judges and government officials.

Justice Aamer Farooq, the senior-most judge of IHC, is the sixth chief justice of Islamabad High Court. Later, new IHC CJ Justice Aamer Farooq took charge of his office formally and started hearing the cases.

The proceedings formally started in IHC’s courtroom No 1 with the recitation of the Holy Quran. A number of lawyers also extended congratulations to the new CJ. Earlier on his arrival at the IHC, Justice Aamer Farooq was presented a guard of honour. =DNA