ISLAMABAD: Justice Ayesha Malik has taken oath as the first woman judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday. Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Gulzar Ahmed administered the oath to her at a ceremony in Islamabad.
Read more: Justice Ayesha Malik takes oath as ‘first woman judge’ of Supreme Court
Congratulations poured in from politicians, celebrities, journalists and others on this historic occasion.
Sharing a picture of her taking the oath, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain tweeted, “A powerful picture symbolises the women empowerment in Pakistan, I hope she will be an asset to our judicial hierarchy… Congratulations #JusticeAyeshaMalik a landmark elevation.”
A powerful picture symbolises the women empowerment in Pakistan, I hope she will be an asset to our Judicial hierarchy… Congratulations #JusticeAyeshaMalik a land mark elevation pic.twitter.com/BZplrXquOK
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) January 24, 2022
Federal Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari wrote, “Historic moment — first woman judge of Supreme Court of Pakistan.”
Historic moment — first woman judge of Supreme Court of Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/vVlZGlOm2X
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) January 24, 2022
Awami National Party Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Spokesperson Samar Haroon Bilour tweeted, “A big day #justiceayeshamalik . Make us all proud.”
A big day #justiceayeshamalik . Make us all proud pic.twitter.com/PSeXKkeBoM
— Samar Haroon Bilour (@SamarHBilour) January 24, 2022
“Congratulations to Pakistan. Today, Pakistan’s daughter Justice Ayesha became the first judge of the Supreme Court. Insha Allah, she will be an excellent judge. Our mothers and daughters are our pride and our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) gave respect and rights to women in society 1400 years ago. Today we have to remember these principles,” said Special Assistant to Prime Minister of Pakistan on Political Communication Dr Shahbaz Gill.
پاکستان مبارک ہو۔ آج پاکستان کی بیٹی جسٹس عائشہ سپریم کورٹ کی پہلی جج بنی۔انشاللہ وہ ایک بہترین ججج ثابت ہوں گی۔ ہماری مائیں بیٹیاں ہمار فخر ہیں اور ہمارے نبی محمد (ص) نے 1400 سال پہلے معاشرے میں عورت کو عزت احترام اور اس کے حقوق عطا کئے تھے۔آج ہمیں انہی اصولوں کو یاد رکھنا ہے
— Dr. Shahbaz GiLL (@SHABAZGIL) January 24, 2022
Senator Faisal Javed Khan congratulated Justice Ayesha for making history in Pakistan’s judicial system after being sworn in as the first female judge of Pakistan’s apex court.
Congratulations to Justice Ayesha Malik for making history in Pakistan’s judicial system after being sworn in as the first female judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan pic.twitter.com/6Wyzz9lvql
— Faisal Javed Khan (@FaisalJavedKhan) January 24, 2022
https://twitter.com/AliyaPTIupdates/status/1485496234035056644
#justiceAyeshaMalik takes oath, making her the first woman Supreme Court Justice in the history of Pakistan.
Many congratulations to her. And many congratulations to all of us 🙌🏼 pic.twitter.com/OEO2FLZXrY
— MEESHA SHAFI (@itsmeeshashafi) January 24, 2022
Congratulations to #JusticeAyeshaMalik for being sworn in as first female judge of the #SupremeCourt of Pakistan. It’s a historic moment for 🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/6K0P7jvVXM
— Austrian Embassy Islamabad (@AustriaInPAK) January 24, 2022
Justice Ayesha Malik sworn in as first female SC judge of Pakistan 👏🏻 #JusticeAyeshaMalik pic.twitter.com/ODLokil95v
— Syeda Tuba Anwar (@syedatubaanwar) January 24, 2022
پاکستان کی عدلیہ میں نئی تاریخ رقم
جسٹس عائشہ ملک سپریم کورٹ کی پہلی خاتون جج بن گئیں
سپریم کورٹ کی پہلی خاتون جج عائشہ ملک نے اپنے عہدے کا حلف اٹھا لیا#justiceayeshamalik pic.twitter.com/jit4odEVh5— Maryam Nawaz Khan (@maryamnawazkhan) January 24, 2022
#JusticeAyeshaMalik’s appointment as the first woman to serve as a Supreme Court Judge in Pakistan is a landmark event. May her appointment serve as a reminder that the composition of the #judiciary must be inclusive and transparent to inspire trust and uphold the #ruleoflaw . pic.twitter.com/lWxAgL33lQ
— Asma Hamid (@AsmaHamidASC) January 23, 2022
Who is Justice Ayesha Malik?
Justice Ayesha studied in Pakistan and abroad, including Harvard Law School in the United States. She was an associate of former chief election commissioner and eminent jurist Justice Fakhruddin Ibrahim, and worked with him as an assistant for about four years, from 1997 to 2001.
The judge, 55, has also been a part of the law firm of which Justice Qazi Faez Isa is a founder.
Justice Ayesha is an expert in constitutional, banking, tax and human rights issues.
According to the LHC website, she has taught banking and mercantile law in different universities of Pakistan. She has been called upon to specialise in cases of child custody, divorce, women’s rights and women’s constitutional protection in Pakistan, England and Australia.
The judge has collaborated with various NGOs on poverty alleviation, microfinance and skills training programmes. She has also been Pakistan’s reporter for the Oxford Reports for International Law in Domestic Courts, published by Oxford University Press.
Read more: Justice Ayesha Malik — A fiercely opposed judge
Justice Ayesha’s decision on the method of medical examination of female victims of sexual violence is very prominent. The decision of the Sharif family to stop the relocation of sugar mills to the Rahim Yar Khan area of South Punjab is also one of her notable decisions.
The judge is married to Humayun Ehsan, a principal and lawyer of a private law college, and has three children.
