Last Updated on: 22nd October 2023, 09:23 pm
Who is Justice Ayesha Malik? Biography, Wiki
Ayesha Malik is a notable figure in the Pakistani judiciary, making headlines in January 2022 as the first-ever female judge appointed to the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Age
She was born on 3 June 1966 in Karachi, Pakistan, and is currently 57 years old.
Short Bio and Some Quick Facts
| Wiki/Bio | |
|---|---|
| Complete Name | Ayesha A. Malik |
| Job/Business | Judicial Personnel |
| Famous For | First Female Judge |
| Supreme Court of PK |
| Personal Life | |
|---|---|
| DOB | 3 June 1966 (Friday) |
| Age (As of 2023) | 57 Years |
| Place of Birth | Karachi, Pakistan |
| Zodiac sign | Gemini |
| Nationality | Pakistani |
| Residence | Karachi, Pakistan |
Education
Ayesha’s educational journey took her to various schools, including ones in Paris and New York. After completing her A levels at the Francis Holland School for Girls in London, she pursued Senior Cambridge studies at the Karachi Grammar School in Karachi.
Subsequently, she earned her bachelor’s degree in commerce from the Government College of Commerce & Economics in Karachi. Later, her legal studies began at the Pakistan College of Law in Lahore, followed by her attendance at Harvard Law School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she earned her LL.M. During her time at Harvard, Ayesha was recognized as a London H. Gammon Fellow for her exceptional merit in 1998-1999.
| Education | |
|---|---|
| School | • Karachi Grammar School, Karachi |
| • Francis Holland School, London | |
| College/University | • Govt. College of Commerce & Economics, Karachi, Pakistan |
| • Pakistan College of Law, Lahore, Pakistan | |
| • Harvard Law School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA | |
| Educational Qualifications | • B.Com (Government College of Commerce & Economics) |
| • LL.B (Pakistan College of Law) | |
| • LL.M (Harvard Law School) |
Marital Status: Husband
| Relationships & More | |
|---|---|
| Marital Status | Married |
| Family | Husband: Humayun Ehsan (principal and lawyer of a private law college) |
| Children: Three |
Early Legal Career
Between 1997 and 2001, Ayesha Malik worked at Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim & Co., where she supported Mr. Fakhurddin G. Ebrahim. She later joined Rizvi, Isa, Afridi & Angell (RIAA), initially as a Senior Associate from 2001 to 2004, and subsequently as a partner from March 2004 to 2012.
During this period, Ayesha played a pivotal role in leading the firm’s Corporate & Litigation Department, also overseeing the Lahore Office.
Legal Expertise
Ayesha Malik possesses extensive legal experience, encompassing appearances in High Courts, District Courts, Banking Courts, Special Tribunals, and Arbitration Tribunals. Her legal work extended beyond Pakistan, as she worked in England and Australia as an expert witness in family law cases involving matters such as child custody, divorce, women’s rights, and constitutional protection for women.
Educator
Ayesha has contributed her expertise as a legal educator at the University of Punjab, Department of Masters of Business and Information Technology, teaching Banking Law. Additionally, she taught Banking Law at the College of Accounting & Management Sciences in Karachi.
Her noteworthy contribution includes the development of a course on ‘gender sensitization for court processes’ for the Punjab Judicial Academy, as well as the compilation of an environmental law handbook to assist courts in addressing environmental matters.
Philanthropic Efforts
Ayesha has actively supported various NGOs involved in poverty alleviation programs, microfinance initiatives, and skills training programs. She also volunteered as an English language teacher at SOS Herman Gmeiner School in Lahore for an extended period.
Authorship And Reporting
Throughout her tenure in law firms, Ayesha Malik authored several publications on trade and financial services. She also wrote extensively on judicial independence and Pakistan’s secular laws.
Furthermore, she served as a reporter for the Oxford Reports on International Law in the Domestic Courts, a publication by Oxford University Press.
Justice of Lahore High Court
On March 27, 2012, Ayesha Malik was appointed as a Justice of the Lahore High Court, marking one of the initial appointments of women to the Lahore High Court.
In 2019, she assumed the role of President of the committee for the protection of women judges in Lahore, formed to address instances of misconduct against women judges by lawyers in district courts.
| Judicial Career | |
|---|---|
| Positions Held (major ones) | • Justice of Lahore High Court (27 Mar 2012 – 5 Jan 2022) |
| • Justice of Supreme Court of Pakistan (24 Jan 2022-present) |
During her tenure at the Lahore High Court, Justice Ayesha Malik, known for her discipline and integrity, issued significant verdicts on various important issues, including the enforcement of international arbitration in Pakistan, asset declaration in elections, and the prohibition of virginity tests on female rape survivors.
Ban on the “Two-Finger Test”
Ayesha gained international recognition by banning the controversial “two-finger test,” previously used during rape-case investigations to assess a woman’s sexual activity level. She deemed these tests “humiliating” and lacking “forensic value,” emphasizing their invasive nature and the absence of scientific or medical justification.
First Female Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan
In January 2022, Pakistan’s judicial commission confirmed Ayesha A. Malik as the first female judge appointed to the Supreme Court, marking a historic moment. Her nomination received widespread support from lawyers, activists, and civil society groups, including Pakistan’s Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed.
Maleeka Bokhari, a legislator and parliamentary secretary for law and justice, highlighted the significance of Ayesha’s appointment as a competent judge and a role model for women in the judicial and legal fields.
On January 24, 2022, Ayesha Malik was sworn in as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) praised this appointment, recognizing it as a crucial step towards enhancing gender diversity in the judiciary, where women remain underrepresented.
Nighat Dad, a digital rights lawyer and human rights activist, noted that Ayesha’s elevation would increase women’s confidence in accessing justice and courts.
The Netherlands Ambassador to Pakistan applauded Justice Malik’s elevation as a positive start to 2022.
Controversial Appointment?
While Ayesha Malik’s appointment to the Supreme Court was celebrated by many, it also sparked controversy. Some lawyers and judges alleged that her elevation violated the seniority list. Imaan Mazari, an Islamabad-based lawyer and rights activist, expressed dissent, emphasizing the importance of more women representation in the judiciary but questioning the transparency of the judicial commission’s decision-making process.
Mazari clarified that the opposition to the appointment was not specific to Justice Ayesha Malik, as her competence as a judge was not in question. Instead, the debate centered on the process employed by the judicial commission.
Physical Appearance
| Physical Stats & More | |
|---|---|
| Eye Colour | Black |
| Hair Colour | Black |
Net Worth
Her exact net worth isn’t known yet but an estimated net worth of around 300,000 US Dollars as of 2023.
Some Fascinating Tidbits
1. Ms. Ayesha Malik is widely recognized for her extensive knowledge and experience in environmental matters, earning her the esteemed title of the “Green Judge of Pakistan.”
2. Notably, it was Ayesha Malik who delivered a groundbreaking verdict that outlawed the use of virginity tests in rape cases, marking a significant legal milestone.
3. Ayesha Malik’s appointment has been shrouded in controversy, as allegations surfaced that the Commission responsible for her selection failed to adhere to established criteria in naming her as a judge. This contentious appointment has garnered opposition from many experts, who assert their objections are based on procedural concerns rather than gender bias.
Justice Ayesha Malik’s Social Media Handles
All the mentioned below are the social media handles of the Justice Ayesha Malik:
| Homepage | theeducationisthub.com |
| www.pk.linkedin.com/in/ayesha-malik-6b9612139 | |
| www.facebook.com/ash.pari444 | |
| Not Available | |
| Not Available |
