Abdul Rashid (Chief Justice)

Sir Abdul Rashid (29 June 1889 – 6 November 1981) was the first Chief Justice of Pakistan. He belonged to the highly respected Mian Arain Family Baghbanpura, Lahore.

Education

He received his early education at Central Model School Lahore, and got his B.A. from Forman Christian College University, Lahore and a Tripos and Masters from Christ's College Cambridge. In 1913, he was called to the Bar from the Inner Temple London.

Law career

He started practising law at Lahore in 1913. He was appointed Assistant Legal Remembrancer in March 1925. From 1927 to 1931 he officiated as Government of Punjab's Advocate. He was appointed as Judge Lahore High Court in 1933. In 1946, he was made Chief Justice of Judicature at Lahore, and was knighted that year.

First Chief Justice of Pakistan

On 15 August 1947, when Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was sworn in as the first Governor General of Pakistan, Mian Sir Abdul Rashid, as senior most Muslim judge in British India, administered the oath of office to him.

Other Executive posts

Sir Abdul Rashid was elevated as the Chief Justice of Pakistan on 27 June 1949. He remained Chief Justice till 29 June 1954. He acted as the President of Khuro Inquiry Commission from 28 May 1948 to 11 February 1949. He also acted as Governor General for 9 months, from April 1953 till December 1953. He was decorated with Hilal-e-Pakistan, Pakistan's highest civilian honour. After retirement as Chief Justice, he was appointed Chairman of the Family Laws...
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