Ijazul Ahsan Explained
Ijazul Ahsan (; born 5 August 1960) is a Pakistani jurist who served as a justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan from 28 June 2016 to 11 January 2024.[1] He resigned on 11 January 2024 following the resignation of Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, without citing a reason.[2] [3]
Early life and education
Ahsan was born on 5 August 1960 in Murree.[4] He received his primary education from Divisional Public School Model Town, Lahore and attended the Forman Christian College in 1975 to 1979 where he graduated with a scholarship of merit.[5] He later attended the Punjab University Law College in Lahore. Upon completing his Bachelor of Laws, he began practicing law and completed his apprenticeship in civil law and criminal law then later pursued post-graduate studies at Cornell University in New York where he graduated in 1987 with a master's degree in law.[6]
Career
He was elevated to the Lahore High Court as a judge in 2009 after the Lawyers' Movement and remained as an associate partner in the oldest law firm in Pakistan, Cornelius, Lane & Mufti. He served as Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court, Lahore.[5]
On 23 October 2023, a 5 member bench of the Supreme Court led by Justice Ijazul Ahsan, declared the trial of ordinary civilians in special military courts as ultra vires the Constitution.[7]
Assassination attempt
On 15 April 2018, unknown gunmen opened fire at Ahsan's residence in Model Town, Lahore in two separate incidents, occurring only hours apart from each other. No casualties were reported.[8]
Reactions
Then Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, visited the residence of Ahsan and ordered the Punjab Inspector general to probe the incidents.
Imran Khan[9] condemned the attack and alluded to the possibility that it was done by the Pakistan Muslim League (N), whose leader Nawaz Sharif was disqualified by a five member bench including Ahsan that delivered the verdict.[10]
Controversial verdicts
On 18 October 2022, a bench headed by Ahsan including Justice Naqvi and Justice Munib Akhtar, acquitted all the perpetrators involved in the Murder of Shahzeb Khan. The verdict was met with heavy criticism and anger by Pakistanis all around the country.
Notes and References
- Web site: Honourable Mr. Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan . www.supremecourt.gov.pk . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160908170553/http://www.supremecourt.gov.pk/web/page.asp?id=2220 . 2016-09-08.
- https://www.dawn.com/news/1805010/upheaval-in-top-judiciary-as-justice-ijazul-ahsan-resigns-a-day-after-justice-naqvi
- Web site: Bhatti . Haseeb . 2024-01-10 . Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi resigns as top court judge . 2024-01-11 . DAWN.COM . en.
- News: IJAZUL AHSAN. www.bolnews.com. 1 September 2022. en. Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan was born on August 5, 1960, in Murree, Pakistan..
- Web site: Honorable Judge Details. July 29, 2022.
- News: IJAZUL AHSAN. www.bolnews.com. 1 September 2022. en. Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan received his early education in Lahore. He got admission to Forman Christian College, Lahore in 1975 from where he graduated in 1979 with a scholarship He joined the Punjab University Law College, Lahore where he completed his LLB and won a gold medal for academic excellence. After graduating, he started a law practice and completed his civil and criminal law apprenticeship. He went to the United States for further studies and graduated with a Masters’s in Law (LL.M) from Cornell University, New York in 1987. He was awarded the prestigious Chevening scholarship to study commercial law in the United Kingdom. He also received a fellowship from the South Western Institute for International Studies in Dallas, Texas..
- Web site: SC rules against civilians' court martial. October 23, 2023. The Express Tribune.
- News: Gunmen open fire at Justice Ijazul Ahsan's Lahore residence in two separate incidents. www.dawn.com. 15 April 2018. en. Unknown gunmen opened fire at the residence of Justice Ijazul Ahsan in Lahore's Model Town in two separate incidents only hours apart, DawnNewsTV reported on Sunday. No casualties were reported in the attacks, one of which took place around 10:45pm on Saturday and the other at 9:10am on Sunday..
- ImranKhanPTI . Imran Khan. 985422359426412544 . Strongly condemn the firing at Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan's house. These Sicilian-mafia-like tactics to pressurise senior judiciary are unacceptable in any democracy. PTI stands firmly behind the Judiciary & Rule of Law & this is one reason behind our 29th April Minar-i-Pakistan jalsa. 15 April 2018.
- News: Gunmen open fire at Justice Ijazul Ahsan's Lahore residence in two separate incidents. www.dawn.com. 15 April 2018. en. Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar visited the residence of Justice Ahsan and called the Punjab inspector general to probe the incidents. The chief justice is said to be overseeing the situation himself. Justice Ahsan was part of the five-member bench that delivered the verdict in the high-profile Panamagate case last year, which led to the disqualification of Nawaz Sharif, the then prime minister..
