ISLAMABAD/KARACHI/PESHAWAR/QUETTA: The acting chief justices of four provincial high courts were sworn in as regular chief justices on Tuesday.
The swearing-in ceremonies came a day after all the four chief justices were finally notified by the Ministry of Law and Justice following the approval of President Asif Ali Zardari.
President Zardari administered the oath to Justice Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar as chief justice of the Islamabad High Court at a ceremony held at the Aiwan-i-Sadr. Justice Dogar had been serving as acting chief justice since February.
The ceremony was attended by judges of the high court, Senate Chairman Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, ministers, parliamentarians, and members of lawyers bodies and legal fraternity, law officers, lawyers, and media persons. Meanwhile, the oath-taking ceremony of the Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Syed Muhammad Attique Shah was held at the Governor’s House. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur met during the event, with Federal Minister Amir Muqam also joining the meeting. The three were seen chatting and exchanging smiles during their interaction. The governor and chief minister, who belong to opposing parties, are often seen exchanging heated words. Balochistan Governor Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhail administered the oath to Balochistan High Court Chief Rozi Khan Barrech. Moreover, Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori administered the oath to Justice Junaid Ghaffar at a ceremony held at the Governor House in Karachi.