Justice Ayesha Malik was sworn in as Pakistan's first female Supreme Court judge on Monday, a landmark occasion in a country where activists say the law is often wielded against women.
Justice Malik attended a ceremony in Islamabad where she now sits on the bench alongside 16 male colleagues at the apex court.
“It's a huge step forward,” lawyer and women's rights activist Nighat Dad told AFP.
“It is history in the making for Pakistan's judiciary.”Justice Malik was educated at Harvard University and served as a high court judge in Lahore for the past two decades.
She has been credited with rolling back patriarchal legal mores in Punjab.
Last year she outlawed a deeply invasive and medically discredited examination used to determine a woman's level of sexual experience.
Women in Pakistan often struggle to gain justice in rape and sexual assault cases, and the test was deployed as a means of discrediting victims by casting aspersion on their character.
Justice Malik's elevation to the apex court of Pakistan may clear the way for more women to enter the historically conservative and male-dominated judiciary.
“She has broken all barriers in the judicial system and it will allow other women in the system to move forward,” said lawyer and women's rights activist Khadija Siddiqi.
“I hope this will lead to more women-centric decisions by the judiciary in the future.”
Prime Minister Imran Khan congratulated Justice Malik and wished her all the best.Lawmakers across the political spectrum as well as journalists rejoiced, sharing pictures and videos of the oath-taking ceremony and terming it “historic” and “inspirational”.
Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, while sharing a shot from the ceremony, said the picture was powerful and symbolised women's empowerment in the country. “I hope she will be an asset to our judicial hierarchy … Congratulations #JusticeAyeshaMalik, a landmark elevation,” he tweeted.