Justice Ayesha Malik on Monday took oath as the first woman judge of Pakistan’s Supreme Court, in what can be described as a watershed moment in the judicial history of Pakistan.

Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed administered the oath to 55-year-old Justice Malik in a ceremony held at the ceremonial hall of the Supreme Court, which was attended by a large number of apex court judges, the attorney general, lawyers, officials of the Law and Justice Commission and others.

Talking to reporters after the ceremony, Chief Justice Ahmed said that Justice Malik was competent enough to become a Supreme Court judge and that no one deserves any credit for her elevation.

Information minister Fawad Chaudhry congratulated Justice Ayesha on her “landmark elevation”.

“A powerful picture symbolises women empowerment in Pakistan,” Fawad tweeted alongside the picture of the oath-taking ceremony, adding that he hopes Justice Ayesha will be an asset to the country's “judicial hierarchy”.

Eyebrows were raised when Justice Malik was picked for the top slot despite being fourth on the seniority list of the Lahore High Court judges.

Senior scribe killed

A senior Pakistani journalist was shot dead by unidentified men outside the Lahore Press Club here on Monday, the police said. “Hasnain Shah, who was in his 40s, was parking his car outside the press club when two motorcyclists opened fire, killing him on the spot,” an official said.