Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi administered the oath of office to the seven new judges in the compound in front of the Supreme Court building in Islamabad on Friday.

The judges who took the oath are justices Muhammad Hashim Khan Kakar, Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui, Salahuddin Panhwar, Shakeel Ahmad, Aamer Farooq, Ishtiaq Ibrahim, and Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb (acting judge).

The decision to hold the oath-taking ceremony outdoors was made considering the anticipated number of guests, including family members and associates of the judges.

Judges from the SC and high court, as well as the attorney general for Pakistan, attended the ceremony.

Officials from the Supreme Court Bar Association and senior lawyers also participated in the event.

On Thursday, the Federal Ministry of Law and Justice issued notifications for the appointment of seven new judges to the SC and various acting chief justices of high courts. But the oath-taking ceremony scheduled was postponed by one day.

Justice Sarfraz Dogar has been appointed as the acting chief justice of the Islamabad High Court. Justice Ijaz Swati has been appointed as the acting chief justice of the Balochistan High Court, Justice Sardar Sarfraz Dogar for the Islamabad High Court, Justice Junaid Ghaffar for the Sindh High Court, and Justice SM Atiq Shah for the Peshawar High Court.

Earlier this week, the Judicial Commission of Pakistan approved the appointment of six high court judges to the Supreme Court amid lawyers protest in Islamabad.

The commission by a majority of its total membership nominated Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb as the acting judge of the SC. His appointment falls under Article 181 (acting judges) of the Constitution and would be formally notified by the President of Pakistan.