ISLAMABAD: Justice Mussarat Hilali was sworn in as a judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, becoming the second woman to be elevated to the apex court.
Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial administered the oath to Justice Hilali at the top court in a ceremony on Friday attended by SC judges, Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan, and members of the legal fraternity.
With her appointment, the top court now has a total of 16 judges, with one slot vacant. Justice Hilali will serve as the top court’s judge for a period of three years before her retirement.
She was also the first woman to become chief justice of Peshawar High Court. Justice Ayesha A. Malik became the first woman to be elevated to the Supreme Court in 2022.
Who is Justice Mussarat Hilali?
Mussarat Hilali was born on 8 August 1961 in Peshawar. She received her Law Degree from Khyber Law College, Peshawar University
Ms. Mussarat Hilali started her legal career joining the male-dominated legal profession and went on to receive many accomplishments.
She enrolled as an Advocate of District Courts in 1983. She enrolled as an Advocate of the Peshawar High Court in 1988. She later enrolled as an Advocate of Supreme Court of Pakistan in 2006.
Ms Mussarat Hilali was the first woman to be elected as Secretary of the Peshawar High Court Bar Association from 1988-1989. She was twice elected Vice President from 1992 to 1994 and again as General Secretary from 1997-1998.
She was the first woman twice elected as an Executive Member of the Supreme Court Bar Association from 2007-2008 and 2008-2009. She was the first female Additional Advocate General of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from November 2001 to March 2004.
She was appointed as Chairperson Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Environmental Protection Tribunal. She was appointed as the first female Ombudsman for Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace.
After the 2018 general election, Justice Mussarat Hilali became the first woman to head an election tribunal in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Mussarat Hilali was elevated to the Peshawar High Court Bench as Additional Judge on 26 March 2013. She was confirmed as a permanent Judge of the Peshawar High Court on 13 March 2014.
She was took oath as Acting Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court on 1 April 2023 She oath as Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court on 12 May 2023.
