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Pakistan Appoints First Woman to Head Baluchistan High Court

by Associated Press

   QUETTA, PAKISTAN --

   The chief justice of Pakistan's Supreme Court has appointed the first
   woman chief justice to Baluchistan province's highest court.

   Saqib Nisar announced Monday the appointment of prominent judge Tahira
   Safdar effective September 1 when she replaces outgoing provincial
   chief justice Mohammad Noor Muskanzai, who retires Aug. 31.

   The legal community Tuesday hailed the appointment of Safar, who has
   heard many high-profile cases.

   Safdar was on a three-judge panel that has yet to conclude the trial of
   former dictator Pervaiz Musharraf on treason charges.

   Musharraf, who seized power in 1999, was declared a fugitive in 2013
   and since then has been living in self-exile in Dubai to avoid arrest
   on criminal charges.