Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani was sworn in as the new Chief Justice of the Pakistan Supreme Court here on Thursday.
Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain administered oath of office to Justice Jillani.
According to PTV, the ceremony was witnessed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Ayaz Sadiq, cabinet members, senior officers and diplomats, besides former Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry who stands retired on the day.
"I, Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, do solemnly swear that I will bear true faith and allegiance to Pakistan, that as Chief Justice of Pakistan I will discharge my duties and perform my functions honestly, to the best of my ability and faithfully in accordance with the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan,"Jillani read out the oath.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry - who retired - spearheaded a legal movement that forced out a dictator and established the independence of the judiciary for the first time in Pakistan's history.
The outgoing Chief Justice made the court Pakistan's third power centre, alongside the army and fledgling civilian government. But he made many enemies along the way.
Chaudhry's successor, Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, nicknamed "the gentleman judge" for his mild manner, is expected to maintain the court's focus on rights, but will steer clear of intervening in government policy.
Jillani, a dapper lover of poetry, antiques and films, is related to the new Pakistani ambassador to the United States and a former prime minister who Chaudhry forced to step down last year.
