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Syeda Tahira Safdar (Urdu: سیدہ طاہرہ صفدر; born 5 October 1957) is a Pakistani jurist served as the Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court.

She is the first female chief justice of any court in the history of Pakistan. Her nomination as chief justice of Balochistan High Court was confirmed by Chief Justice of Pakistan, Mian Saqib Nisar on 23 July 2018. On the provincial level, she has the honor of being the first lady in all posts she served in her life including being the first female civil judge in Balochistan in 1982.

Early life and education

She was born on 5 October 1957 in Quetta, Pakistan. Her father, Syed Imtiaz Hussain Baqri Hanafi, was a lawyer by profession. She completed her primary education from Cantonment Public School, Quetta, bachelor's degree from Government Girls College, Quetta, masters in Urdu literature from University of Balochistan and in 1980, a law degree from University Law College, Quetta.

Judicial career

In 1982, she became the first female civil judge of Balochistan. She passed the Balochistan Public Service Commission examination and was promoted to senior civil judge on 29 June 1987. She went on to become an additional district and sessions judge on 27 February 1991 and then as a full-fledged district and sessions judge on 1 March 1996. She also presided the Labor Court. She first became the member on 22 October 1998 and then the chairperson on 10 July 2009 of Balochistan Services Tribunal. She was elevated as an additional judge of Balochistan High Court on 7 September 2009. She became the judge of Balochistan High Court on 11 May 2011. In 2012, she attended a training in The Hague, Netherlands on the topic of International Law for Justice on Meeting International Human Rights Standards in Criminal Proceedings. She has been part of numerous other international conferences on topic of law throughout her judicial career. She has been serving as a member of the Administration Committee, the Promotion Committee and the Committee which drafts and examines the rules and their particulars and which also drafts regulations, circulars and notifications. She was confirmed to be the Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court on 23 July 2018 and took charge as such on 1 September 2018. In her capacity in this post, she became the first female chief justice of any court in Pakistan.

She is hearing the high treason case against former dictator Pervez Musharraf as part of a three-member special court which was approved by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on 19 November 2013.

See also

• Suman Kumari

References

1. "Justice Syeda Tahira Safdar". High Court of Balochistan.
2. ^ "Justice Tahira Safdar nominated as first female chief justice in Pakistan - The Express Tribune". tribune.com.pk. 23 July 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
3. ^ "Pakistan gets its first woman high court chief justice; Tahira Syeda Safdar to replace Mohammad Noor Muskanzai - Firstpost". www.firstpost.com. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
4. ^ Bilal, Rana (23 July 2018). "Justice Tahira Safdar nominated as first woman chief justice of a Pakistani high court". dawn.com. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
5. "Justice Syeda Tahira Safdar To Be The First Woman High Court Chief Justice In Pakistan - Live Law". livelaw.in. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
6. "Pakistan appoints first woman to head Baluchistan high court". kansas.com. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
7. "Balochistan to have first woman chief justice - Daily Times". dailytimes.com.pk. 1 September 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
8. Shah, Syed Ali (1 September 2018). "Justice Tahira Safdar sworn in as first woman chief justice of a Pakistani high court". Dawn.
9. "Musharraf could face death in treason case, says top Pak official - Firstpost". www.firstpost.com. Retrieved 24 July 2018.

• Living people
• 1957 births
• Pakistani judges
• University of Balochistan alumni
• People from Quetta
• Chief justices of the Balochistan High Court
• Women chief justices
• Pakistani women judges