Pakistan's judiciary moved past a tense standoff Tuesday as 16 of 19 newly appointed high court additional judges took their oaths, hours after President Asif Ali Zardari finally assented to their appointments. The swift ceremony capped a weeks-long confrontation between the Presidency and the PML-N government, a dispute that had left the superior courts understaffed and legal observers watching closely. The swearing-in also covered five permanent judge confirmations, including one for the Lahore High Court and four for the Peshawar High Court, alongside a six-month extension for a Sindh High Court judge. All appointments were made effective for one year from the date of the oath, though the three Sindh High Court judges will be sworn in on Wednesday. Main Developments President Zardari's approval arrived after his legal team and government representatives met, with sources describing the matter as "on its way to resolution" and another meeting expected in the coming days. The breakthrough came just hours before the oath-taking, which had been indefinitely postponed on July 27 when the president neither approved the summary nor returned it for reconsideration. Read also: Pakistan Condemns Houthi Red Sea Attack Killing 3 Nationals The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) had recommended the appointments on July 20 and 21, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif forwarded the summary to the Presidency. Following the president's assent, the Ministry of Law and Justice issued formal notifications, clearing the path for the ceremonies. Ten additional judges took oath at the Lahore High Court in a ceremony administered by Chief Justice Aalia Neelum, while Chief Justice Muhammad Kamran Khan Malakhail administered oaths to three new Balochistan High Court judges. The Islamabad High Court and Sindh High Court appointments were also part of the batch, though the latter's ceremony was delayed by a day. Background The deadlock traced back to the JCP's recommendations, which the president's legal team had objected to on two grounds: nearly all Pakistan Peoples Party nominees were rejected, and some recommended candidates had criminal records. These objections were never formally accepted by the government, which maintained there was no legal justification for the delay. The standoff created real operational problems for the courts. Four Peshawar High Court additional judges whose confirmations were pending saw their terms expire on August 4, while Sindh High Court Additional Judge Justice Khalid Hussain Shahani's term lapsed on July 29 after a six-month extension. To remedy the disruption, the law ministry backdated the PHC judges' appointments to July 20, the date of the JCP recommendations, and extended Justice Shahani's term for another six months from July 29. With the matter sub judice before the Islamabad High Court, where advocate Luqman Zafar Chaudhary had challenged the delay, officials initially said notifications could not be issued. The federal government had also weighed invoking Article 48(1) of the Constitution to bypass presidential approval, arguing the president was constitutionally bound to act on the summary within a fortnight. Sources indicated the government's legal team planned to pursue an "out-of-court" settlement with the Presidency. Why It Matters The resolution restores full judicial capacity across four high courts after weeks of uncertainty that left benches short-staffed and case backlogs growing. For litigants and the legal community, the swift swearing-in signals a return to normal operations, though the underlying friction between the executive and Presidency over judicial appointments remains unresolved. The dispute also highlighted a constitutional grey zone: whether the president can indefinitely withhold assent on judicial appointments or is bound by a strict timeline. The government's consideration of Article 48(1) suggests this question may not be settled, even if this particular crisis has passed. Beyond the appointments, President Zardari's other approvals — including equalising Supreme Court and Federal Constitutional Court judges' salaries, allowances, and pensions — carry long-term institutional implications for the judiciary's independence and financial security. What's Next The three Sindh High Court additional judges — Muhammad Humayon Khan, District Judge Suresh Kumar, and Dr Shah Nawaz Memon — will be sworn in on Wednesday, completing the full batch of 19. The Islamabad High Court petition challenging the delay remains pending, with counsel requesting it stay active until the law ministry issues a formal notification. The Lahore High Court will still face staffing gaps: 10 vacancies remain against its sanctioned strength of 60 judges, a number set to rise to 11 next week with the retirement of Justice Shahid Karim. Another meeting between the government and Presidency legal teams is anticipated in the coming days, which could clarify whether the remaining issues — including t