Biography of justice tassaduq hussain jilani shamims
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The State PLD 1999 Lahore 494), declaring the right to education a fundamental right (Ahmed Abdullah’s case ibid) and holding that in an age of globalized inter-dependence, dual nationality should be permitted (Umar Ahmad Ghumman v. He declared that religious freedom is multidimensional and encompasses “the right to believe, right to propagate, and right to disseminate.”
To facilitate implementation, Justice Jillani established a three-member bench charged with overseeing the judgment’s execution; still today, this mechanism provides minorities with an accessible platform for justice.
The Judiciary’s Role in Democracy
Justice Jillani also described his judicial philosophy, emphasizing three principles: judges must decide matters according to constitutional values; the judiciary has a pedagogical role to educate citizens; and judges must sometimes serve as catalysts for social change.
“Unless the public is educated, unless the public is conscious, unless the public is aware of the constitutional values, you cannot have a functional democracy and you cannot have a rule of law,” he said.
The event concluded with questions from those in attendance.
In addition, he was formerly co-chair of the Working Party on Mediation in family international law by the Hague Conference.
As a fellow, Justice Jillani shared with UC San Diego students and faculty his stance on how the judicial system in Pakistan has established its independence from other branches of government. he was elected Secretary General of the District Bar Association Multan and Member of the Punjab Bar Council.
In 1994, he was elevated as Judge of the Lahore High Court, Lahore and having served there for ten years (from August 7, 1994 to July 2004), he was elevated to the Supreme Court of Pakistan ( in July 2004). He graduated from the Forman Christians College, Lahore and from the same institution, he obtained his Masters Degree in Political Science.
As Chief Justice, he issued a landmark ruling on minority rights after taking suo motu notice of violence against religious minorities, including a suicide bombing at a Peshawar church that killed 81 Christians.
“I was a very sensitive young man, and I found that we were not treating the minorities fairly,” Justice Jillani said. How could he do that?
“They should watch out whether the rule of law is under threat today or not.”
The full conversation is available to watch on Duke Law’s YouTube Channel.
Residency: Feb. 27 - March 10, 2017
Public Talk:
"Maintaining an Independent Judiciary in Face of Political Challenges"
March 8, 2017
Former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan Tassaduq Jillani shared his views on how the judicial system in Pakistan has established its independence from the other branches of government.
“I always looked for a moment or a case in which I could announce my opinions.”
His judgment included seven directives, including the creation of a special force to protect places of worship for minorities, the establishment of a National Council for Minorities’ Rights, and the development of curricula promoting pluralistic values. In 2004, he was named as a justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, and he was chief justice for the last year of his tenure on the Supreme Court from 2013 to 2014.
Standing Against Authoritarianism
The focus of the conversation then shifted to Justice Jillani’s courageous stance against military dictator General Musharraf in 2007.
“He stands by his morals and his beliefs above everything else. In 1979 he was appointed as Assistant Advocate General Punjab and thereafter he became Additional Advocate General and finally the Advocate General Punjab in 1993. Some of the honors and awards received are as below:
- Was awarded “Key of the City of Detroit (Michigan)” by the Mayor at a function;
- On 12th of October, 2007, conferred “Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters” at a special Convocation held in Southern Virginia University, Washington;
- In July 2008, was invited by the American Bar Association to receive the ‘2008 Rule of Law Award’ on behalf of those Judges of Pakistan who demonstrated courage in upholding the ‘Rule of Law’ in the country.
- The Hague Conference has appointed him as the Co-Chair of the Working Party on Mediation in Family International Law.
The Working Party comprises of Judges of the Superior Courts and Academics from Europe, United States, Latin America, India and Asia.
- 'Justice for All' (the theme song sung at the 50th Anniversary of the Supreme Court of Pakistan) penned down by Mr. Jillani has been declared as the Judicial Anthem of Pakistan by the Full Court presided over by the Hon'ble Chief of Justice of Pakistan
- He was appointed as member of the Hague International Judicial Network.
- In February 2017 he went to University of California San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy on an invitation for a two-week fellowship granted by the Centre on Global Transformation.
He pursued an MA in Political Science from FC College and an LLB from Punjab University. Justice Jillani was reinstated thereafter.
Championing Religious Plurality
Justice Jillani’s groundbreaking work on religious freedom and plurality was a highlight of the discussion. We were shocked. Justice Jillani was among a group of senior judges who refused to take a new oath of loyalty to Musharraf and were relieved of their judicial duties.
During his stay he also gave a public talk on "Maintaining Judicial Independence in the Face of Political Challenges", where Judge Margaret McKeown of the 9th Circuit, U.S. Court of Appeals was his co-speaker.
- He was conferred the Distinguished Formanite Award by the Forman Christians College University, Lahore for the year 2011.
Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani is known as a liberal, independent and balanced Judge.
He began practicing law in Multan in 1974. Justice Jillani also served as advocate general of Punjab, a member of the Punjab Bar Council and general secretary of the District Bar Association Multan. Margaret McKeown of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit provided a comparative perspective and discuss the current challenges facing the U.S.
courts.
Biography
Justice Tassaduq Jillani is the 21st Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan (2013-14). Govt of Pakistan PLD 2002 Lahore 521), laying down guidelines for qualitative improvement in legal (Pakistan Bar Council v.