Justice Mussarat Hilali becomes first woman chief justice of Peshawar high court
PESHAWAR/ISLAMABAD: Justice Mussarat Hilali became the first woman chief justice of the Peshawar High Court on Saturday.
Justice Hilali took the oath of her new responsibility this morning. She became chief justice of PHC after the retirement of PHC Chief Justice Qaiser Rashid Khan on March 30.
Justice Noorul Amin Khan, the most senior judge of the court was appointed as the acting CJ, but his role lasted a day only.
After Justice Khan’s retirement on March 31, a day after he took over as the acting CJ, Justice Mussarat Hilali was appointed as the first woman acting chief justice of the PHC.
The President of Pakistan appointed Justice Hilali as the acting CJ until the appointment of a regular incumbent.
Justice Hilali was appointed as the additional judge of the Peshawar High Court in 2013 and became a regular judge in 2014.
CJ Hilali’s tenure will end in August. She will serve as the chief justice of the PHC for five months.
Who is Justice Mussarat Hilali?
Born on August 8, 1961 in Batkhela village of Malakand division, Justice Hilali received her primary education in her local area and then moved to Peshawar for higher education. After obtaining an LLB degree from the Peshawar University’s Khyber Law College, she started practicing law as a profession.
She obtained her district court license in 1983, high court in 1988 and then the Supreme Court in 2006.
Justice Hilali played a central role in the lawyers freedom movement of 2007. One of her legs was also fractured while being arrested during the movement.
She also has the honor of being the vice president of the PHC, as well as the first woman additional advocate general of KP.
Women lawyers welcomed the appointment of Justice Hilali as the first woman chief justice of the PHC.
