Muhammad Yaqub Ali


Mohammed Yaqub Ali was a Pakistani judge who was Chief Justice of Pakistan from 1975 to 1977.
Ali was born at Jalandhar in March 1912, received early education at Jalandhar. He did his graduation from Islamia College, Lahore and Law from University of Punjab in 1936. He remained active in the Freedom Movement and was Chairman of the Julundar Chapter of the Muslim League.
In 1948 he started practicing at Lahore High Court. He was elevated to the High Court Bench in 1955 and in 1965 was raised to the Supreme Court Bench. Justice Yaqub Ali was appointed the Chairman of the Karachi Airport Enquiry Commission in 1969 and in 1971 the Chairman of Special Court for Ganga Hijacking Case. In 1975 led the Pakistan Delegation to 7th World Peace Conference held at Washington.
Justice Mohammed Yaqub assumed the office of Chief Justice of Pakistan on 1 November 1975. In 1976 led the Pakistani Delegation to the United Nations third Law of Sea Conference held at New York City. In 1977 he was appointed as the Chairman of Indus Water Commission. He was a great believer in democracy which is why he was forced to retire by the military dictator Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq on 22 July 1977. Justice Yaqub Ali had held a previous martial law by a usurping general ultra-vires to the constitution of Pakistan as martial law undermines the concept of the rule of law which is the basis for a constitution. The usurping General Zia realized his illegal actions would be overturned in a court of law headed by a Judge who believed in democracy so he proposed amendments to force the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to retire. In fact, the general did not just stop there but went further on to remove most of his siblings save one.
After retirement Justice Yaqub Ali became a social worker in the field of education to make sure he continued to serve his country.