ISLAMABAD - Three newly appointed additional judges of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) Friday took oath of their office. 
Chief Justice (CJ) of IHC Justice Athar Minallah administered the oath to the newly elevated additional judges namely Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq Khan, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir and Justice Saman Raffat Imtiaz. 
In this regard, a simple and graceful ceremony was held in the Islamabad High Court for the oath taking of the three judges appointed by the President of Pakistan. The ceremony was attended by the judges of IHC, judicial officers of district judiciary, bar representatives, lawyers, government officers, distinguished guests and family members of the judges. 
Registrar IHC Farhan Aziz Khawaja welcomed the guests on behalf of the IHC Chief Justice. After taking oath, the additional judges held their respective courts. 
The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) had, on November 23, 2021, unanimously approved the names of three judges for their promotion to the position of additional judge of the Islamabad High Court. All three names were proposed by the Chief Justice of IHC Justice Athar Minallah. 
It was November 10 when the IHC CJ had written a letter to the JCP wherein he explained why he had recommended these names. He stated that the IHC has been established under Article 175 of the Constitution. Section 3 of the Islamabad High Court Act, 2010 provides that the high court shall consist of a chief justice and nine other judges to be appointed from the provinces and other territories of Pakistan. At present four positions of judges are vacant. 
The letter had further stated that an extensive process of consultation was undertaken to find the most suitable candidates for filling the vacant positions. It had said that the fundamental consideration was to ensure that the proposed candidates possess the requisite credentials and repute expected from members of the bench. The candidates were shortlisted after extensive considerations with all the relevant stakeholders.
On these nominations, the IHC CJ had said, the high court had identified two advocates from Sindh. However, one of them did not consent to his name being proposed for elevation to the IHC.
The nominee, Saman Rafat Imtiaz, has a strong academic background and enjoys a reputation for professionalism. Currently, no female judge is working in the IHC.
Regarding the nomination of Arbab Muhammad Tahir, IHC CJ had said the nominee had been practicing in Balochistan and had served as its advocate general for a considerable period.
The third nominee, Barrister Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, had an established law practice In Islamabad. “He has been regularly appearing before the benches of this court and the judges are unanimous in their opinion regarding his competence, integrity and professional conduct,” the IHC CJ had stated.
He further said, “His professional expertise and experience relating to the fields of arbitration, commercial and corporate law, statutory regulatory authorities and taxation make him the most suitable candidate to be considered for elevation as an additional judge of the Islamabad High Court.”