Pakistan gets its first woman chief justice of high court

Justice Tahira Safdar was named as the Chief Justice of the Balochistan high court on Monday.

Justice Tahira Safdar was named as the Chief Justice of the Balochistan high court by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar.

Justice Tahira Safdar will take charge of her new role following the retirement of incumbent Balochistan high court Chief Justice. (Reuters File Photo)

Nisar told at an event to launch a book by Justice (retired) Fakhrun Nisa that he was trying to right a wrong by elevating Justice Tahira as the Chief Justice of the Balochistan High Court.

He said that Justice Fakhrun Nisa had recently told him that she felt slighted when she was overlooked for the position of the Lahore High Court chief justice.

“Today I am trying to right that wrong — as that was an injustice done to women and not just an individual — and nominate Justice Tahira Safdar as the first-ever female high court chief justice in Pakistan.” The Chief Justice said.

Justice Safdar will take charge of her new role following the retirement of incumbent Balochistan high court Chief Justice Mohammad Noor Muskanzai, who attains superannuation on August 31.

Justice Tahira Safdar, 61, belongs to Quetta and is the daughter of renowned lawyer Syed Imtiaz Hussain Baqri Hanafi.

She made history in 1982 when she became the first woman civil judge in Balochistan.