In a significant development within the judiciary, Supreme Court Justice Ijazul Ahsan on Thursday resigned from his position, marking the end of a distinguished career that spanned seven years in the apex court.

Justice Ahsan, born and raised in the picturesque town of Murree, had been widely anticipated to assume the role of Chief Justice after the retirement of the current Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa in October 2024.

Early education and legal career

The legal luminary, born on August 5, 1960, in Murree, began his educational journey at Divisional Public School DPS Model Town, Lahore, and later pursued his LLB at the University of the Punjab, where he earned a gold medal for academic excellence.

Furthering his education, Justice Ahsan attended Cornell University in New York City, where he graduated with a master's degree in Law, securing a Chevening scholarship from the British Council for the study of commercial law in the UK.

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Known for his expertise in civil, banking, property, commercial, and constitutional matters, Justice Ijazul Ahsan garnered recognition for his successful legal practice.

He was associated with the prestigious Cornelius, Lane & Mufti firms as an associate partner, and later, in 2009, joined the Lahore High Court following the Lawyers' Movement.

Rising through the ranks, Justice Ahsan eventually served as the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court, Lahore, and in late 2015, he was appointed as the top judge of the Lahore High Court. His illustrious career culminated in his elevation to the Supreme Court of Pakistan in June 2016.

Justice Ijaz’s participation in judgements

During his tenure in the apex court, Justice Ijazul Ahsan played a pivotal role in several landmark judgments. Notably, he was part of a bench that declared the trial of ordinary civilians in special military courts.

In 2022, he led a bench that acquitted all the accused involved in the high-profile murder case of Shahzeb Khan, sparking debates and discussions within legal and political circles.