Hon'ble Mr. Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rahman

Chief Justice Federal Shariat Court of Pakistan
2

Date of Assumption of Office: 01.06.2023

      Hon’ble Mr. Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rahman is a scion of a noble family that has its roots in the legal fraternity since pre-partition of Indo-Pak Sub Continent. His paternal uncle, late Maudoodur Rahman was a barrister, who later became a Judge of the Chief Court Calcutta. His maternal grandfather late Mr. Ashraf Ali Khan was a barrister and a practicing Advocate in Calcutta High Court. He was also a Member of the Bengal Legislative Assembly in Calcutta and was later elected as Deputy Speaker of the said Assembly before partition. His illustrious father late Hon’ble Mr. Justice Hamoodur Rahman was appointed as Advocate General of East Pakistan in 1953, from where he was elevated to the Bench as Judge of the Dhaka High Court in 1954. In addition he remained as the Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University (1958-60). He was appointed as Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan in 1960 and was made the Chief Justice of Pakistan in 1968. He was one of those widely respected individuals in the history of Pakistan, who through his exalted character and dedication to this country had left such imprints, which will be followed by the generations unborn with dignity and pride. He was author of the “Hamoodur Rahman Commission Report” which inquired into the circumstances leading to the breakup of Pakistan in 1971. Besides revealing the causes of the dismemberment of Pakistan, the said report gave an honest and courageous account of the events that led to the said tragedy. He was also the Chairman of Presidential Commission on Education (1964), Chairman Law Reform Commission (1967), Member United Nations Committee on Crime Prevention and Control (1972-73) and Chairman of the Council of Islamic Ideology (1974-77).

      Hon’ble Mr. Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rahman was born in Dacca in 1956. On the elevation of his illustrious father as Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, the family shifted to Lahore in 1960, where Mr. Iqbal Hameedur Rahman started his primary education from St. Anthony High School, Lahore. After doing his Matriculation from the said institution, he joined Government College Lahore, from where he did his Intermediate in 1973 and Graduation in 1975. He obtained his professional degree of LL.B. from the Punjab University, Law College, Lahore in 1980. In addition he also obtained diploma in Labour Laws from the Punjab University Lahore. He started his professional career as an Advocate in 1981 from the District and Civil Courts in Lahore and was enrolled as an Advocate High Court in 1983 and an Advocate Supreme Court in 1997. In 1998, he was elected as the Secretary Lahore High Court Bar Association. In 2006, he was elevated as an Additional Judge of the Lahore High Court and was confirmed as a permanent Judge of the Lahore High Court on 27.10.2007. His lordship chaired the Inquiry Commission on “Violent protest at Gojra over desecration of Holy Quran (2009)” being Judge of Lahore High Court, Lahore.

      After the promulgation of Provisional Constitutional Order 2007, he was asked to take oath under the PCO. Like his courageous counterparts he stood for the rule of law in order to preserve the dignity and honor of his institution and the Constitution of Pakistan and refused to take oath under the PCO. He and his counterparts were subjected to an insurmountable mental anguish but no inducement or threat could deter him from his chosen path. He sacrificed his tenure of eleven years of judgeship at the altar of truth and rule of law with such dignity that the soul of his noble father would always be proud of him. He and his brother Judges ignited such flame in the heart of this nation that not only led to a great social awakening but also bound this society with the rule of law.

      After passing of the 18th Constitutional Amendment and establishment of Islamabad High Court, he was elevated as the first Constitutional Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court on 03.01.2011 and elevated as Judge Supreme Court of Pakistan on 25.02.2013.

      Hon’ble Mr. Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rahman took oath as Chief Justice of the Federal Shariat Court of Pakistan on 01.06.2023. The Oath was administered by Mr. Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Hon’ble Chief Justice of Pakistan.

      He has been associated with Virtual University as a Member of Board of Governors as well as a Member of the Selection Board of Virtual University. He is a Member of Majlis-e-Amla, Anjuman Himayat-i-Islam, also holding a position of Vice President of the Anjuman and a Member of Anjuman Himayat-i-Islam Law College Committee.

      He also remained Member, Election Commission of Pakistan from the Province of Punjab before 18th Constitutional Amendment.

Ex-Officio

  • Member, National Judicial Policy Making Committee.
  • Member, Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan.
  • Member, Advisory Board of Al Mizan Foundation.
  • Member, Administration Committee of Al-Mizan Foundation.
  • Member, Board of Governors, Board of Trustees, Council of Trustees and Selection Board of the International Islamic University Islamabad.