Syed Sajjad Ali Shah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Syed Sajjad Ali Shah
سید سجاد علی شاہ |
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| 13th Chief Justice of Pakistan | |
| In office 4 June 1994 – 2 December 1997 |
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| Appointed by | Benazir Bhutto, Prime Minister of Pakistan |
| Preceded by | Saad Saud Jan (Acting) |
| Succeeded by | Ajmal Mian |
| 6th Chief Justice of Sindh High Court | |
| In office 13 December 1989 – 4 November 1990 |
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| Preceded by | Ajmal Mian |
| Succeeded by | Saeed-uz-Zaman Siddiqui |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 17 February 1933 Karachi, British Raj (now Pakistan) |
| Died | 7 March 2017 (aged 84) Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan |
| Alma mater | S. M. Law College Lincoln's Inn |
Syed Sajjad Ali Shah (Urdu: سید سجاد علی شاہ) was an important Pakistani judge. He was born on February 17, 1933, and passed away on March 7, 2017. He served as the 13th Chief Justice of Pakistan from 1994 to 1997. Before that, he was the Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court.
Contents
Early Life and Becoming a Judge
Syed Sajjad Ali Shah was born in Karachi in 1933. He became a lawyer in 1959. Over time, he worked in different legal roles. He was a public prosecutor, which means he represented the government in court cases. He also served as a judge in district courts.
Later, he worked for the government in the Ministry of Law. In 1977, he became the Registrar of the Supreme Court. This role involves managing the court's records and administration. In 1987, he was appointed as a judge of the Sindh High Court. He then became the Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court from 1989 to 1990.
Becoming Chief Justice of Pakistan
In 1994, Syed Sajjad Ali Shah was chosen to be the Chief Justice of Pakistan. This is the highest judicial position in the country. He was appointed by Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Usually, the most senior judge becomes Chief Justice. However, in this case, two more senior judges were passed over.
During his time as Chief Justice, there were some big events. Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was later removed from her position. Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah and other Supreme Court judges supported this decision.
Challenges as Chief Justice
Later, Chief Justice Shah had disagreements with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. In 1997, Prime Minister Sharif was facing accusations of corruption in the Supreme Court of Pakistan. During one hearing, a large crowd of supporters entered the Supreme Court building. This caused the Chief Justice to stop the court proceedings. Police had to use force to bring order back inside and outside the courthouse.
The President at the time, Farooq Leghari, was concerned about the situation. He resigned from his position in December 1997. Soon after, Syed Sajjad Ali Shah was removed from his role as Chief Justice. Ajmal Mian was then appointed as the new Chief Justice.
Later Life and Passing Away
Syed Sajjad Ali Shah passed away on March 7, 2017, in Karachi. He was 84 years old and had been ill with a chest infection.
Other Activities
- He was the former Chairman of the Iran-Pakistan Friendship Association.
His Book
- He wrote a book called Law Courts in a Glass House: An Autobiography.
See also
- Chief Justice of Pakistan
- Supreme Court of Pakistan
- List of Pakistanis
