Pakistan’s puisne judge, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, stepped down from his role as Supreme Court judge on January 11, 2024.
Justice Ahsan was slated to become Pakistan’s next Chief Justice after incumbent CJP Qazi Faez Isa’s retirement in October 2024.
Ahsan hailed from the resort town of Murree. He was born on August 05, 1960, in Murree – the country’s famous hill station located on the outskirts of the capital, Islamabad.
He completed his basic education at Divisional Public School DPS Model Town, Lahore, and later attended FC College. Ijaz Ul Ahsan then joined the University of the Punjab for LLB and bagged a gold medal for academic performance.
For higher studies, he went to NYC Cornell University, graduated, and got a master’s degree in Law.
The legal expert secured a Chevening scholarship from the British Council to study commercial law in the UK. He also received a fellowship from the Dallas Law Institute.
Ijazul Ahsan completed his apprenticeship in civil and criminal law. In his practice, he excelled in civil, banking, property, commercial and constitutional matters.
The legal Eagle conducted several local and international commercial arbitrations involving local and multinational parties. He remained as an associate partner in the prestigious Cornelius, Lane & Mufti firms.
In 2009, he joined the Lahore High Court after the Lawyers’ Movement and later served as Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court, Lahore. He also served as an inspection judge for District Kasur, Gujranwala, and Lahore.
He was appointed the top judge of LHC in late 2015 and made it to the Supreme Court of Pakistan in June 2016.
Judgments
Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan made several judgments in his seven years in the apex court. He was part of the bench that declared the trial of ordinary civilians in special military courts.
In 2022, a bench led by Justice Ijaz acquitted all the perpetrators involved in the Murder of Shahzeb Khan.
Soon after his resignation, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz raised questions about his stepping down. The political leaders said stepping down alone would not conclude the matter, and accountability must be done.
In 2018, Justice Ahsan was part of the bench that ruled that disqualification under Article 62(1)(f) was for life. He remained part of other bench that raised eyebrows over the no-confidence against former prime minister Imran Khan.
Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan, Pakistan’s next-in-line Chief Justice, resigns
