Nasim Hasan Shah facts for kids

The Supreme Court of Pakistan building in Islamabad.

Nasim Hasan Shah (Urdu: نسیم حسن شاہ) (born April 15, 1929 – died February 3, 2015) was a famous Pakistani judge. He served as the Chief Justice of Pakistan, which is the highest judge position in the country.

He is known for his role in a significant court case involving Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Pakistan's first democratically elected Prime Minister. This case led to a verdict that resulted in the death penalty.

Another important decision he made was to bring back the Parliament of Pakistan. The President at the time, Ghulam Ishaq Khan, had dissolved it. The Supreme Court, led by Justice Shah, decided that the President's order was wrong. They said the Prime Minister is not answerable to the President. Instead, the President must usually follow the Prime Minister's advice.

Despite being physically small, Justice Shah achieved great things. He became the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan from April 17, 1993, to April 14, 1994. He had an excellent academic background, including a special law degree from Paris University. He became a High Court Judge at just 39 years old. He served as a judge for a very long time, retiring from the Supreme Court at 65.

Early Life and Education

Nasim Hasan Shah was born in Lahore, a city now in Pakistan. His father, Syed Mohsin Shah, was a well-known lawyer and political activist.

• He went to Cathedral School and Central Model School in Lahore.
• He studied at Government College, Lahore from 1943 to 1947.
• He earned his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from the University of the Punjab in 1949.
• He received a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Political Science from Government College in 1951.
• He earned a special law degree, "Docteur-en-droit," from the University of Paris (Sorbonne) in France.
• He also got a doctorate in Political Science from the University of Paris in 1954.
• He received a diploma from The Hague Academy of International Law in 1954.
• He attended a seminar on International Law at Harvard University in 1957.

Key Achievements and Roles

Justice Nasim Hasan Shah had many important roles and received several honors throughout his career.

• He was named "Man of the Decade" for his work in supporting democracy and the rule of law. This award was given by the American Pakistan Alliance in Washington D.C. in 1993.
• He was chosen as one of Pakistan's representatives to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague from 1959 to 1977.
• He worked as the Editor of Supreme Court Reports from 1960 to 1963.
• He became a Judge of the High Court of West Pakistan in 1968.
• He was appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan in 1977. He was the youngest judge in the history of the Supreme Court at that time.
• He was elected President of SAARCLAW (Pakistan) in 1992 and then President for the entire SAARC Region from 1993 to 1995.
• He served as the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in Pakistan (B.C.C.P.) from 1992 to 1994.
• He became the Chief Justice of Pakistan and Chairman of the Pakistan Law Commission in 1993.
• He was elected President of several important organizations, including "Markazzia Majilis-i-Iqbal" (The Central Iqbal Committee) and "Quaid-e-Azam Forum."
• He was a visiting professor at the Kulliyah of Laws, International Islamic University Malaysia, where he taught about how Islamic laws were being introduced in Pakistan.
• He was the founding Chairman of The Citizens Media Commission in 1998.
• He was elected President of Anjuman-i-Himayat-i-Islam (Association for the Service of Islam) in 1998.

Public Service

Justice Nasim Hasan Shah dedicated his life to public service in various fields.

Pakistan Cricket Board President

Justice Nasim Hasan Shah was the President of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) from 1993 to 1994. During his time, a special committee was set up for the Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA).

The Citizen's Media Commission of Pakistan

Dr. Nasim Hasan Shah was the first Chairman of this Commission. This group worked on media-related issues for citizens.

Markazzia Majilis-i-Iqbal

After serving as Chief Justice, he was elected President of "Markazzia Majilis-i-Iqbal," also known as The Central Iqbal Committee. This committee promotes the ideas of the famous poet and philosopher Allama Iqbal.

Books and Writings

Justice Nasim Hasan Shah wrote several books about law, justice, and Pakistan's legal system.

• Constitution, Law and Pakistan Affairs (1986)
• Law, Justice and Islam (1989)
• Judgement on the Constitution, Rule of Law and Martial Law in Pakistan (1993)
• Constitution, Law and Pakistan Legal System (1999)
• Memoirs and Reflections (His personal memories and thoughts)

See also

• Chief Justices of Pakistan
• Supreme Court of Pakistan

Images for kids

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  The Supreme Court of Pakistan building in Islamabad.