LAHORE: Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar on Monday announced that Justice Syeda Tahira Safdar would be the next chief justice of the Balochistan High Court, becoming the first-ever female chief justice of any high court in the country.

He stated this while addressing a ceremony held to launch the book written by retired Justice Fakharunisa Khokhar of the Lahore High Court.

He said Ms Khokhar wrote in her memoir as to how she was subjected to unfairness and was denied her right to become the chief justice of the high court. CJP Nisar said it was an injustice not done to Ms Khokhar but to a woman.

He said this unjust act would be repaired by appointing Justice Syeda Tahira Safdar as chief justice of the Balochistan High Court.

Justice Safdar, who is the senior puisne judge of the BHC, had started her career as a civil judge in 1982. She was promoted to the rank of senior civil judge in 1987, additional district and sessions judge in 1991 and district and sessions judge in 1996.

She worked as presiding officer in a labour court and was appointed member of the Balochistan Services Tribunal (BST). She later served as chairperson of the BST till her elevation as additional judge of the high court in 2009 and was later confirmed in 2011.

BHC Chief Justice Muhammad Noor Meskanzai will reach the superannuation on Sept 1 this year.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2018