ISLAMABAD, Sept 18: Former chief justice of Sindh High Court Justice Sabihuddin Ahmed is likely to be appointed to the Supreme Court and two judges of the apex court, Justice Sardar Mohammad Raza Khan and Justice Nasirul Mulk, are expected to take a fresh oath soon, Dawn learnt on Thursday.

Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany of the Sindh High Court is also likely to be elevated to the apex court.

After this, the strength of the Supreme Court will increase to 22. The sanctioned strength of the court was increased to 29 from 16 through the finance bill.

An official said Justice Sabihuddin and Justice Sarmad had been requested to reach Islamabad but the notification of their appointment and elevation had not been issued till Thursday night.

If Justice Raza Khan takes a fresh oath he will become the chief justice after the retirement of Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar on March 21, 2009.

He will retire on Feb 9, 2010, after which Justice Faqir Mohammad Khokhar will be the senior-most judge till his retirement on April 15 of the same year.

After the fresh wave of appointments, four judges of the Supreme Court will remain deposed — Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday, Justice Falk Sher, Justice Raja Fayaz Ahmed and Justice Chaudhry Ejaz Ahmed. Justice Falk Sher will retire on Sept 21.