Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed administered the oath to Justice Malik, 55, during a ceremony at the Supreme Court's ceremonial hall participated by a significant number of apex court judges, the attorney general, lawyers, Law and Justice Commission officials, and others. Speaking to reporters after the ceremony, Chief Justice Ahmed stated that Justice Malik was qualified to serve on the Supreme Court and that no one should take credit for her elevation.

When Justice Malik was chosen for the top spot despite being 4th on the Lahore High Court's seniority list, eyebrows were raised. Her nominee was turned down by Pakistan's Judicial Commission last year (JCP). However, when her name was brought up for consideration for the second time earlier this month, the regulations that better her with a slight majority of 5 to 4. Heated debates reportedly preceded the nomination session, which lasted nearly three and a half hours.