ISLAMABAD: Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb formally took his seat as a permanent judge of the Supreme Court on Monday, in a ceremony marked by an unusually large turnout of judges, lawyers and dignitaries. Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi administered the oath in the Supreme Court’s ceremonial hall, which was filled to capacity, with many attendees standing due to the limited seating.
The event drew judges from the superior courts, senior members of the bar, and officials from the Federal Judicial Academy and the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (LJCP). Federal Shariat Court Chief Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rehman occupied a prominent front-row seat, while Justice Muhammad Karim Khan Agha attended as the representative of the Federal Constitutional Court.
Supreme Court Registrar Muhammad Sohail Laghari conducted the proceedings, which were also attended by a notable number of high court judges. According to a senior lawyer present at the ceremony, the gathering was among the largest ever seen for a judicial oath-taking. He noted that the attendance included all judges of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), despite perceived divisions within the court, suggesting broad respect for Justice Aurangzeb among his former colleagues.
The hall, which had been arranged with additional chairs, quickly filled up, and many participants were left standing as they observed the proceedings. The strong turnout, attendees said, reflected Justice Aurangzeb’s standing within the legal community and his reputation built during his tenure at the IHC.
You May Also Like: Body of Missing Abbottabad Doctor Recovered from Thandiani Forest
Separately, in Quetta, Justice Muhammad Kamran Khan Mulakhail was sworn in as the Chief Justice of the Balochistan High Court (BHC) during a ceremony at the Governor House. Having previously served as acting chief justice, he formally assumed the role after taking the oath administered by Balochistan Governor Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhail.
Supreme Court Registrar Muhammad Sohail Laghari conducted the proceedings, while a slew of high court judges were also in attendance.https://t.co/ohsgE9fnIL
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) December 9, 2025
The BHC ceremony was attended by Justices Iqbal Ahmed Kasi, Shoukat Ali Rakhshani, Gul Hassan Tareen, Muhammad Aamir Nawaz Rana, Sardar Ahmed Haleemi, Muhammad Ayub Khan and Najamuddin Mengal, along with judges of subordinate courts, senior police officials, bar representatives, political leaders and tribal elders.
Both ceremonies marked significant moments for the judiciary, underscoring transitions at the apex and provincial levels as the courts continue to adjust to evolving caseloads and administrative challenges.
