Syed Sajjad Ali Shah
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 | |
Appointed by | Benazir Bhutto, Prime Minister of Pakistan |
Preceded by | Saad Saud Jan (Acting) |
Succeeded by | Ajmal Mian |
Chief Justice Sindh High Court | |
In office 13 December 1989 – 4 November 1990 | |
Preceded by | Ajmal Mian |
Succeeded by | Saeed-uz-Zaman Siddiqui |
Personal details | |
Born | Karachi, British Raj (now Pakistan) | 17 February 1933
Died | 7 March 2017 Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan | (aged 84)
Alma mater | S. M. Law College Lincolns Inn |
Syed Sajjad Ali Shah (Urdu: سید سجاد علی شاہ) was the Chief Justice of Pakistan from 4 June 1994 to 2 December 1997. Sajjad Ali Shah had been appointed as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court by Benazir Bhutto. He became a critic of Nawaz Sharif and matters came to a head in 1997 when Sharif was defending himself in Supreme Court against accusations of corruption. An unruly mob stormed into the Supreme Court, forcing CJ Sajjad Ali Shah to adjourn the case against PM Nawaz Sharif. Hundreds of Sharif supporters broke through the police cordon around the courthouse and the Chief Justice had to flee for his safety. The police managed to restore order only after baton charging and year gassing the mob, both inside and outside the courthouse.
President Leghari had given his support to Sharif. He was appalled by the measures being taken by the government, but had no powers to dismiss it since the Eight Amendment had been revoked. He was particularly concerned when he was asked by the government to dismiss Sajjad Ali Shah and appoint an acting Chief Justice of Pakistan. He, therefore, resigned on 2 December 1997. Shortly afterwards, Muhammad Rafiq Tatar, the PML (Pakistan Muslim League) was elected to replace him. On 23 December, Ajmal Mian was appointed as permanent Chief Justice. Sajjad Ali Shah had been dismissed.[1]
Chief Justice of Pakistan[]
When Dr. Nasim Hasan Shah retired as Chief Justice of Pakistan in 1994, Justice Saad Saud Jan should have taken his place based on seniority. But Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto threw tradition overboard, when she by-passed two senior judges and appointed Sajjad Ali Shah as Chief Justice of Pakistan. Later, she was dismissed by President Farooq Leghari on charges of corruption and Sajjad Ali Shah along with 6 other judges of the Supreme Court upheld this decision. Reading from a 12-page short order, Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah said
- The presidential order contained enough substance and adequate material had been provided to conclude that the government could not be run in accordance with the provisions of the constitution and that an appeal to the electorate had become necessary.
Death[]
Syed Sajjad Ali Shah died at the age of 84 on 7 March 2017 in Karachi after suffering from severe chest infection.[2][3][4][5]
Other services[]
- Former Chairman of Iran-Pakistan Friendship Association
Works[]
- Law Courts in a Glass House: An Autobiography, by Sajjad Ali Shah ISBN 0-19-579561-X
See also[]
- Chief Justice of Pakistan
- Chief Justices of Pakistan
- Supreme Court of Pakistan
- List of Pakistanis
References[]
- ^ Pakistan, The History & Culture Of. The History & Culture Of Pakistan. London, UK: Peak Publishing Limited. ISBN 1 901458 .67 9 Check
|isbn=
value: invalid character (help). - ^ "Former CJP Sajjad Ali Shah passes away - The Express Tribune". 7 March 2017. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
- ^ "Former CJP Syed Sajjad Ali Shah passes away - SAMAA TV". Retrieved 15 March 2017.
- ^ "Former CJP Sajjad Ali Shah dies in Karachi - Pakistan - Dunya News". Retrieved 15 March 2017.
- ^ Times, The Sindh (7 March 2017). "Former Chief Justice Supreme Court Sajjad Ali Shah dies - The Sindh Times". Retrieved 15 March 2017.
British
- Judging the State : Courts and Constitutional Politics in Pakistan, by Paula R. Newburg ISBN 0-521-89440-9
- 1933 births
- 2017 deaths
- Chief Justices of Pakistan
- Sindhi people
- Lawyers from Karachi
- Sindh Muslim Law College alumni
- Chief Justices of the Sindh High Court