Muhammad Noor Meskanzai

Muhammad Noor Meskanzai (born 1 September 1956) is a Pakistani judge who is the 17th and current chief justice of the Federal Shariat Court. Prior to his appointment as chief justice of the Islamic Court on 15 May 2021,^[1] he served as the 18th chief justice of Balochistan High Court from 26 December 2014 to 31 August 2018.^[2]

The president of Pakistan appointed him as the chief justice of Shariat Court for the term of one year^[3] three days before his retirement from the legal services.^[4]

Earlier life[]

Meskanzai was born in Kharan, Pakistan to Dr. Molvi Muhammad Qasim Aini Baloch. He did his early schooling from the Government Middle School (in modern-day High School), Kunri. The school is founded by his father and was the first private educational institution in the area. It was later recognised by the Education Commission of Pakistan between 1951 and 1952. He did his matriculation from the same school and later went to Quetta. He obtained his F.A. from the Government Degree College, Quetta and B.A, and B.Ed. from the University of Balochistan. He obtained his Bachelor of Laws from the in 1979–1980.

Career[]

Meskanzai started his legal practice in September 1981 and was subsequently appointed as a legal advisor to Custom for Makran Division, and Makran Scout at Turbat. He also served as a member of the Panel of Legal Advisors to PTCL Makran Division. Justice Meskanzai was appointed assistant advocate general for Balochistan, Pakistan where he remained in the office from June to December, 1998. He was then elected as vice chairman of the Balochistan Bar Council from the 24 March 2005 to 24 March 2006.^[5]

During his legal practice, he served as Chairman Executive Committee for two consecutive terms. Prior to his appointment as Before he was elevated as additional judge of Balochistan High Court, he served as chairperson of Inter-Provincial Relations Committee and a member of the .

He attended several workshops on judicial fundamentals such as International Law for Judges in the International Human Rights Standards in Criminal Proceeding in 2012, held in The Hague, Netherlands, and the International Judicial Conference held in Islamabad on 13 and 15 April 2012. He also participated in the 2011 Environmental Law, Quetta. He was appointed as High Court of Balochistan judge on the 11 May 2011.

After serving as Hugh Court judge, he was appointed as chief justice of Balochistan High Court on 26 December 2014 and unit he retired on 31 August 2018.^[5] He participated in the 2015 Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Exchange Programme in Washington, D.C. and was head of the Pakistani delegation. In 2017 he went to Central London and participated in a ceremony which revealed the first-ever sculpture of Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

He was invited by International Lawyers Club United Kingdom to London as a chief guest in 2019. He remained a member of various judicial organization such as the , Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan, Advisory Board of Al Mizan Foundation, Council of Trustees & Selection Board of the International Islamic University Islamabad, Administration Committee of Al-Mizan Foundation, Board of Governors, and Board of Trustees.^[5]

References[]