The four judges of the Lahore High Court, who were among 60 deposed during last year's emergency, were administered oath by provincial Chief Justice Syed Zahid Hussain Bukhari at a simple ceremony in the eastern city.

Judges, law officers of the federal and provincial governments and lawyers affiliated to the ruling PPP attended the event.

The federal government's policy of 'selectively' reinstating the judges has been criticised by the influential lawyers' movement and the PML-N, which pulled out of the PPP-led coalition after accusing party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari of reneging on agreements to restore all the judges.

Office-bearers of the Lahore High Court Bar Association did not attend Saturday's ceremony to register their protest. Strict security arrangements were put in place for the event and ordinary persons were not allowed to enter the venue.