ISLAMABAD, Nov 21: Five judges of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) - two permanent and three additional - took oath on Monday.

IHC Chief Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rehman administered the oath at a ceremony held at the court building. Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retired) Hamid Ali Mirza, registrar Supreme Court Dr Faqir Hussain, law officers and lawyers from the twin cities attended ceremony.

Justice Mohammad Anwar Khan Kasi and Justice Riaz Ahmed Khan took oath as permanent judges while Justice Noorul Haq Qureshi, Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui and Justice Azim Khan Afridi sworn in as additional judges.

The number of IHC judges has now reached six. According to IHC Act 2010, the total strength of the IHC judges is seven.

So far, judges from Punjab, Sindh, KP, Balochistan and Fata have been appointed in the IHC while the seat reserved for the federal capital is still vacant.

The judges were appointed by President Asif Ali Zardari on the advice of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani as recommended and approved by the Judicial Commission of Pakistan and the parliamentary committee on appointment of judges.

The newly-appointed judges heard the petitions soon after taking oath. The IHC administration has fixed a couple of petitions in the court of the three new judges for their first working day.

The lawyers welcomed the addition of the judges and expressed the hope that about 10,000 cases pending in the court would be disposed of speedily.