ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has sworn in Justice Mussarat Hilali as its second female judge. Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial administered the oath at the Supreme Court’s ceremonial hall during the ceremony.
Attorney General for Pakistan, Mansoor Usman Awan, attended the event along with senior judges and lawyers.
Justice Hilali’s appointment brings the total number of judges in the Supreme Court to 16 out of the sanctioned 17. President Dr. Arif Alvi appointed Justice Hilali as a Supreme Court judge on Wednesday. This decision came after the Parliamentary Committee on Judges’ Appointments also gave its approval.
Justice Ayesha Malik made history in January previous year by becoming the first female judge appointed to the Supreme Court.
Justice Mussarat Hilali’s Profile
She made history by becoming the first woman to hold the position of Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) on April 1, following the retirement of Justice Qaiser Rashid Khan. She is the second female judge to serve as Chief Justice of a high court in Pakistan, after Justice Tahira Safdar, who was Chief Justice of the Balochistan High Court from September 2018 to October 2019.
Born on August 8, 1961, in Peshawar, Justice Hilali obtained her law degree from Khyber Law College, University of Peshawar. She began her legal career as an advocate of district courts in 1983, later becoming an advocate of the high court in 1988 and the Supreme Court in 2006.
Throughout her career, Justice Hilali has achieved numerous milestones. She has been an active civil society activist, a dedicated member of the bar, and an advocate for human rights. Justice Hilali held various positions within the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, including serving as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter head.
Justice Hilali served as the PHC Bar Association’s first female secretary, vice president, and general secretary, playing crucial roles. She was also elected as an executive member of the Supreme Court Bar Association for two consecutive terms.
Justice Hilali also served as the first woman Additional Advocate General from November 2001 to March 2004. She also chaired the KP Environmental Protection Tribunal.
Justice Hilali’s commitment to women’s rights is evident in her appointment as the first provincial ombudsperson under the Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace Act 2010 in 2010. On March 26, 2013, Justice Hilali was appointed as an additional judge, and on March 13, 2014, she was confirmed as a judge of the Peshawar High Court.
Justice Hilali actively participated in the 2007 Lawyers’ Movement, which began after a reference against then-Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry. She courageously stood alongside her male counterparts in the legal fraternity during this movement.
Justice Mussarat Hilali’s achievements reflect her dedication to the legal profession, human rights, and gender equality in Pakistan. Her appointment as the first female Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court marks a significant milestone for women in the judiciary.
