Irshad Hasan Khan

Irshad Hasan Khan graduated in law from University Law College, Lahore. He started his legal career as a Pleader in 1959 and became an Advocate of the High Court of West Pakistan in 1961. Later, he was enrolled as an advocate of Supreme Court of Pakistan in 1966 and eventually became a Senior Advocate of Supreme Court in 1979. From 1975 to 1979, he also served as a Visiting Professor Himayat-e-Islam Law College, Lahore.

Irshad Hasan Khan's career in the legal and judicial field is marked by several significant appointments and achievements:

• Deputy Attorney General for Pakistan from 1979 to 1981;

• Elevated as a Judge in the Lahore High Court in 1981;

• Secretary, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Government of Pakistan from 1984 to 1988;

• Ad hoc Judge of the Supreme Court in October 1994;

• Became a Judge of the Supreme Court in May 1995;

• Acting Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court from June 1995 to April 1996; and

• Chief Justice of Pakistan on 26 January 2000.

During his tenure as Chief Justice of Pakistan, he held various important positions:

• Ex officio Chairman, Supreme Judicial Council;

• Chairman, Supreme Chief Justices’ Committee;

• Chairman, Pakistan Law Commission (a federal statutory institution responsible for systematic legal reform);

• Chairman, Federal Judicial Academy (an institution for training judicial officers and court staff);

• Chairman, Al-Mizan Foundation (a body for the welfare of retired Judges of Superior Courts, retired/serving Judges of subordinate courts, and court staff); and

• Chairman, Judicial Policy Body (responsible for strengthening institutional capacity for judicial and legal reforms). Mr Irshad Hasan Khan also had international engagements and affiliations:

• Ex officio Patron of the Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada;

• Advisor to the Worldwide Judges Center, Annandale, Virginia, USA in the year 2001;

• Member of the Panel of Arbitrators, International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes, Washington D.C., U.S.A.;

• Participated in various international conferences and seminars related to law and justice.

In May 2000, as a Chief Justice of Pakistan, He validated 1999 Pakistani coup d'état by invoking the doctrine of necessity.^[1][2]

Justice Irshad Hasan Khan was appointed Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan on 14 January 2002. He served in this position until his retirement on 13 January 2005.

While holding the position of Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Khan also used to serve as Acting President of Pakistan when the President was abroad.