Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 20th Chief Justice of Pakistan | |
| In office 22 March 2009 – 11 December 2013 | |
| Appointed by | Asif Ali Zardari |
| Preceded by | Abdul Hameed Dogar (Acting) |
| Succeeded by | Tassaduq Hussain Jillani |
| In office 20 July 2007 – 3 November 2007 | |
| Appointed by | Pervez Musharraf |
| Preceded by | Rana Bhagwandas (Acting) |
| Succeeded by | Abdul Hameed Dogar (Acting) |
| In office 30 June 2005 – 9 March 2007 | |
| Appointed by | Pervez Musharraf |
| Preceded by | Nazim Hussain Siddiqui |
| Succeeded by | Javaid Iqbal (Acting) |
| Chief Justice of the Balochistan High Court | |
| In office 22 April 1999 – 3 February 2000 | |
| Appointed by | Miangul Aurangzeb |
| Preceded by | Amir-ul-Mulk Mengal |
| Succeeded by | Javaid Iqbal |
| Founder and President of Pakistan Justice and Democratic Party[1] | |
| In office 25 December 2015 – 20 October 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 12 December 1948 Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan |
| Political party | Pakistan Justice and Democratic Party (PJDP) |
| Spouse | Faiqa Iftikhar |
| Relations | Arsalan Iftikhar Chaudhry (son) Muhammad Aamir Nawaz Rana (nephew) Rana Sanaullah Khan (cousin) |
| Children | 5 |
| Alma mater | Sindh Law University University of Sindh |
Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry (Urdu: اِفتِخار مُحَمّد چودهرى; born 12 December 1948) is a Pakistani jurist who served as the 20th Chief Justice of Pakistan over three non-consecutive terms from 29 June 2005 to 11 December 2013.
Chaudhry began practice as an advocate of the Sindh High Court in 1976, before shifting to his native Quetta and later serving as Advocate General of Balochistan, Pakistan. He was elected as president of the Balochistan High Court Bar Association, Quetta in 1986 and was elected twice as member of the Bar Council. He was appointed Advocate General of Balochistan in 1989. He also discharged duties as Banking Judge Special Court for Speedy Trials, Judge Customs Appellate Court as well as Company Judge. He was appointed as Chairman of the Balochistan Local Council Election Authority in 1992 and thereafter for a second term in 1998. He ascended as a senior advocate at Supreme Court before taking a government law assignment in Quetta. In 1990, he was appointed as an additional judge at the Balochistan High Court. He was appointed as Chairman Provincial Review Board for the Province of Balochistan on the recommendations of Hon’ble Chief Justice of Pakistan. He was appointed twice as Chairman of Pakistan Red Crescent Society Balochistan by the Government of Balochistan. In 1999 he was nominated as Chief justice of the Balochistan High Court by the President Rafiq Tarar. The same year, he controversially took oath under Chief of Army Staff General Pervez Musharraf, validating the LFO ordnance No. 2002, and ascended to the Supreme Court in 2002. On 30 June 2005, President Musharraf appointed Chaudhry as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
On 9 March 2007, Musharraf asked Chaudhry to resign, which he refused to do, and was suspended from office. The resultant civil disorder led to the Lawyers' Movement, which succeeded in the restoration of Chaudhry as Chief Justice on 20 July 2007.[2] However, Musharraf declared a state of emergency in November, arresting Chaudhry as well as suspending 60 other judges from the judiciary. Following the lifting of the emergency in December and the general elections in 2008, the government was routed, and Musharraf resigned under threat of impeachment. Asif Ali Zardari succeeded Musharraf as president, but also postponed Chaudhry's restoration. This led to the Lawyers' Movement culminating in the Long March by Zardari's political rival Sharif, and the restoration of the Chaudhry-led judiciary on 22 March 2009. Chaudhry stepped down on 12 December 2013.
The movement for Chaudhry's restoration garnered world attention,[3] while his term as Chief Justice witnessed unprecedented judicial activism, including the suo motu notice of controversial privatization of the Pakistan Steel Mills, leading the case of missing persons in Balochistan, arguing and issuing orders against the New Murree project regarding as environmental catastrophe, and ruling the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) as unconstitutional and irrelevant. After proceeding the notice of contempt against the Prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani who forcefully refused to direct a letter to Swiss authorities over President's hidden assets in Swiss Banks, Chaudry retroactively discharged and ousted Gillani and his government on 26 April 2012. He retired on 12 December 2013[4] as Chief Justice.[3]
Chaudhry's legacy is described as having "repurposed a once supine judiciary as a fiercely independent force",[5] but he has also been criticized for judicial overreach and allegations of misuse of office.[6][7][8]
On 25 December 2015, Chaudhry announced the formation of the Pakistan Justice Democratic Critic Party headed by himself.[1]
- ^ a b "Iftikhar Chaudhry launches his party". Dawn. 27 December 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
- ^ "CJ Complete Profile". Retrieved 18 December 2014.
- ^ a b "Cj Iftikhar Last Day". 18 February 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
- ^ "CJ Retired". 19 November 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
- ^ Walsh, Declan (13 December 2013). "Pakistan's Chief Justice Leaves a Mixed Legacy". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
- ^ Pakistani chief justice's son accused of taking gifts to influence father
- ^ Ex-CJP Iftikhar jumps into foray; locks horns with Imran Khan
- ^ Hanif, Anees (5 July 2016). "Iftikhar Chaudhry misused office to fulfil personal agenda, says Aitzaz Ahsan". DAWN.COM.