Justice Musarrat Hilali sworn in as Peshawar High Court’s first female Chief Justice
Justice Musarrat Hilali was sworn in as Peshawar High Cour’s first female Chief Justice on Saturday, in a landmark occasion for nation.
Her swearing-in ceremony was held at Peshawar High Court where Khyber Pakhtunkhuwa governor administered oath. Several judges, attorney general for Pakistan and lawyers attended ceremony.
Justice Musarrat is second female to hold role of chief justice of a high court after former chief justice of Balochistan High Court Justice Tahira Safdar.
62-year-old received a law degree from Khyber Law College of University of Peshawar and started practice in 1983; she moved to high court after a couple of years and becomes advocate of top court in 2006.
Ms. Hilali also served as female secretary of Peshawar Bar Association in 90s and remained in other positions including vice president and first female General Secretary of the bar.
Women in top leadership roles increase productivity and their role in society and Justice Musarrat Hilali is the perfect example of women holding top positions in conservative societies like Pakistan.
Pakistan is known to be a male-dominated nation but Pakistani women break stereotypes in achieved many firsts, especially in legal fraternity. In January, Justice Ayesha Malik made it to Supreme Court while lawyers Sabahat Rizvi and Rabbiya Bajwa recently got top slots in Lahore High Court Bar Association.