Justice Ayesha Malik becomes first woman judge at SC after Judicial Commission’s approval

What happened:   Pakistan makes history after the country’s Judicial Commission approves Justice Ayesha Malik’s elevation to the Supreme Court as a judge. Justice Ayesha Malik will become the first woman judge at the SC. On January 6, the Judicial Commission of Pakistan approved her name in a five to four vote. Now, the nomination only needs to be endorsed by the Parliamentary Committee on Appointment of Judges.  Details: Justice Ayesha Malik is fourth on the Lahore High Court seniority list as she became a judge of LHC in 2012. The five members of the Judicial Commission that voted in her favour, included retired judge Sarmad Jalal Osmani, Justice Umar Ata Bandial, CJP, Attorney General Khalid Jawed and the law minister Farogh Naseem. On the other hand, the four votes against Justice Ayesha Malik’s elevation were of Justice Qazi Faez Isa, Akhtar Hussain, Justice Maqbool Baqar and Justice Sardar Tariq Masood. More: At the same time, if she is elevated to the apex court Justice Ayesha Malik will serve as the Supreme Court judge till 2031 and will become the Chief Justice after Justice Yahya Afridi’s retirement in January 2030. PTI’s member of the national assembly, Maleeka Bokhari, congratulated the Justice by changing her Twitter’s profile picture and tweeting,  “Congratulations to Pakistan & Hon justice Ayesha Malik. An important & defining moment in our country as brilliant lawyer & decorated judge has become Pakistan’s first female SC judge.”