Abdul Rashid

Sir Mian Abdul Rashid, KCSI, H.Pk (; 29 June 1889 – 6 November 1981) was the first Chief Justice of Pakistan, legal philosopher, one of the founding fathers of Pakistan, and a jurist.

Early life and education

He was born on 29 June 1889 in a well-known Arain family, namely Mian family of Baghbanpura of Lahore. 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 University in 1912.

In 1913, he was called to the Bar from the Middle Temple, London.

Law career

He started practising law at Multan and later shifted to Lahore in 1913 where he joined the chambers of Mian Muhammad Shafi. He was then appointed Assistant Legal Remembrancer. In the summer of 1923, he was appointed acting judge of Lahore High Court on recommendation of Sir Shadi Lal, who was then Chief Justice of the said court. From 1927 to 1931, he officiated as Government of Punjab's Advocate. He was appointed Judge, Lahore High Court in 1933. In 1946, he was made Chief Justice of Judicature at Lahore, and was knighted in the 1946 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.

Awards and recognition

In 2005, the Government of Pakistan honoured him by naming a main road (7th Avenue) 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. Hilal-e-Pakistan (Crescent of Pakistan) Award by the President of Pakistan