Irshad Hasan Khan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Irshad Hasan Khan
ارشاد حسن خان |
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| 16th Chief Justice of Pakistan | |
| In office 26 January 2000 – 6 January 2002 |
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| Preceded by | Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui |
| Succeeded by | Bashir Jehangiri |
| Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan | |
| In office October 1994 – 25 January 2000 |
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| Acting Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court | |
| In office June 1995 – April 1996 |
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| Law Secretary of Pakistan | |
| In office 1984–1988 |
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| Judge of the Lahore High Court | |
| In office 1981–1995 |
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| Deputy Attorney General for Pakistan | |
| In office 1979–1981 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Irshad Hasan Khan
7 January 1937 Simla, British India (now India) |
| Citizenship | Pakistani |
| Nationality |  Pakistan |
| Residences | Lahore, Punjab Pakistan |
| Alma mater | Government College University Punjab University |
Justice Irshad Hasan Khan (Urdu : ارشاد حسن خان) was a very important judge in Pakistan. He served as the Chief Justice of Pakistan from January 2000 to January 2002. This is the highest judicial position in the country.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Irshad Hasan Khan was born on January 7, 1936. He studied law at the University Law College in Lahore. After finishing his studies, he started his legal career in 1959.
Becoming a Lawyer
He first worked as a Pleader, which is a lawyer who represents people in court. In 1961, he became an Advocate for the High Court of West Pakistan. This meant he could argue cases in a higher court.
Later, in 1966, he became an advocate for the Supreme Court of Pakistan. This is the highest court in the country. By 1979, he was a Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court, which is a special title for experienced lawyers. From 1975 to 1979, he also taught law at Himayat-e-Islam Law College in Lahore.
A Career in Law and Justice
Justice Irshad Hasan Khan had a long and important career in Pakistan's legal system. He held many key positions.
Important Roles
- From 1979 to 1981, he was the Deputy Attorney General for Pakistan. This role involves advising the government on legal matters.
- In 1981, he became a Judge in the Lahore High Court.
- He served as the Secretary for the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs from 1984 to 1988. This job involved helping to create and manage laws for the government.
- In October 1994, he became an Ad hoc Judge of the Supreme Court. This means he was a temporary judge for specific cases.
- He became a full Judge of the Supreme Court in May 1995.
- From June 1995 to April 1996, he was the Acting Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court.
- Finally, on January 26, 2000, he became the Chief Justice of Pakistan.
Leadership as Chief Justice
While he was the Chief Justice, Justice Khan led several important groups:
- He was the Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council. This group looks into complaints against judges.
- He also chaired the Pakistan Law Commission. This group works to improve and update the country's laws.
- He led the Federal Judicial Academy, which trains judges and court staff.
- He was Chairman of the Al-Mizan Foundation, which helps retired judges and court staff.
- He also headed the Judicial Policy Body, which works to make the justice system stronger.
International Work
Justice Khan also worked with international legal groups:
- He was a patron of the Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute in Canada.
- In 2001, he advised the Worldwide Judges Center in the USA.
- He was part of a group that helps settle international investment disagreements in Washington D.C.
- He attended many international meetings about law and justice.
Key Decisions and Roles
Justice Khan made some important decisions and took on additional responsibilities during his career.
Doctrine of Necessity
In May 2000, as Chief Justice, he used something called the doctrine of necessity. This legal idea allows actions that are usually against the law to be considered valid during a time of great emergency or crisis. He used this to approve a change in government that happened in Pakistan in 1999.
Chief Election Commissioner
After his time as Chief Justice, Justice Irshad Hasan Khan was appointed the Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan. He started this role on January 14, 2002, and served until his retirement on January 13, 2005. In this job, he was in charge of making sure elections in Pakistan were fair and organized.
Acting President
Sometimes, when the President of Pakistan was out of the country, Justice Khan would step in as the Acting President. This shows how important his role as Chief Justice was.
His Autobiography
Justice Irshad Hasan Khan wrote a book about his life called Irshad Nama. It was published in 2020. The book shares his journey from a difficult start to becoming the highest judge in Pakistan. He talks openly about the challenges he faced and shares his thoughts on important legal and political events in Pakistan's recent history.
Academic and Institutional Roles
Beyond his work in the courts, Justice Irshad Hasan Khan also played a role in education and other important institutions.
- In 2001, he was given an honorary professorship at the National Judges College of China. This college trains judges for China.
- He was a member of a committee that worked on making the justice system independent from the government in Pakistan.
- He was also involved with the Sharia’h Academy at the International Islamic University, Islamabad.
- He served on the governing bodies (Syndicate and Board of Governors) of several universities, including Bahauddin Zakariya University and the University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore.
