ISLAMABAD, Sept 12: President Pervez Musharraf on Monday elevated the chief justice of the Balochistan High Court and two judges of the Lahore High Court to the Supreme Court. He also appointed Justice Hamid Ali Mirza, who is due to retire on Tuesday, and retired judge Karamat Nazir Bhandari as ad-hoc judges of the apex court.

According to an official announcement, Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court Justice Raja Fayyaz Ahmed and Lahore High Court’s Justice Chaudhry Ijaz Ahmed and Justice Syed Jamshed Ali have been appointed judges of the Supreme Court.

The announcement said that Justice Hamid Ali Mirza and Justice (retd) Karamat Nazir Bhandari have been made ad-hoc judges of the apex court for a period of one year.

The sanctioned strength of judges in the Supreme Court is 17.

According to APP, the president also appointed Justice Amanullah Khan Yasinzai as Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court.