Mian Abdul Rashid


Sir Mian Abdul Rashid, KCSI was the first Chief Justice of Pakistan, legal philosopher, one of the founding fathers of Pakistan, and a jurist.

Education

He was born on 29 June 1889 to Arain Mian family of Baghbanpura. He received his early education at Central Model School in Lahore, and got his B.A. from Forman Christian College, also in Lahore, and a Tripos and Masters from Christ's College, Cambridge. In 1913, he was called to the Bar from the Middle Temple, London.

Law career

He started practising law at Lahore in 1913. He was then appointed as Assistant Legal Remembrancer. In summer of 1923, he was appointed as acting judge of Lahore High Court on recommendation of Sir Shadilal, who was then Chief Justice of the said court. 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 in that year's Birthday Honours list.

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, Rashid, as the most senior Muslim judge in British India, administered the oath of office to him.

Honour and recognition

In 2005, the Government of Pakistan honoured him by naming a main road after him in the federal capital, Islamabad. The former Seventh Avenue down to Khayaban-i-Suhrawardy and the Kashmir Highway has been renamed Justice Sir Mian Abdul Rashid Avenue.