President Alvi approves elevation of justice Musarrat Hilali to SC

Islamabad: President Dr. Arif Alvi on Wednesday officially appointed Chief Justice Musarrat Hilali of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) as a judge of the Supreme Court.

The Ministry of Law and Justice issued a notification confirming her appointment, which will take effect upon her oath-taking.

This decision follows the unanimous approval given by the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) on June 14 and the subsequent approval from the eight-member Parliamentary Committee on Judges' Appointments.

With Justice Hilali's elevation, the Supreme Court will now have two women judges, with Justice Ayesha A. Malik being the first.

Justice Hilali, who became the first female chief justice of the PHC on April 1, has an impressive legal career and a strong background in human rights activism. She was actively involved in the Lawyers' Movement of 2007 and has held various prominent positions, including chairperson of the KP Environmental Protection Tribunal and provincial ombudsperson appointed under the Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace Act 2010.

Born in Peshawar, Justice Hilali earned her law degree from Khyber Law College, University of Peshawar. She was enrolled as an advocate of the district courts in 1983, the high court in 1988, and the Supreme Court in 2006.

Her appointment to the Supreme Court will contribute to the diverse composition of the judiciary, ensuring greater representation and perspectives.