International Justice Excellence Award bestowed on ex-CJP Tassaduq Jillani

Jillani’s scholarly opinions have contributed to establishment of equal justice throughout international community

KARACHI: International Institute for Justice Excellence has named Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, the former chief justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, as the recipient of the International Justice Excellence Award.

Justice Jillani has been named to receive the prestigious award for his outstanding contribution to the global elevation of the principles of justice in Pakistan and the international community, International Institute for Justice Excellence said in a press release.

Past awardees include The United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and the Right Honourable Lord Harry Woolf of the United Kingdom.

Justice Jillani “authored many crucial opinions that addressed the foundational principles of religious tolerance, gender neutrality and freedom of conscience”, it added. “His scholarly opinions have contributed to the establishment of equal justice throughout the international community”, reads the release.



The former CJP has highlighted the threat to democracies by hate speech on the Internet and has offered suggestions to curb such divisive language while maintaining freedom of expression.

In reference to suo moto actions regarding the suicide bomb attack of September 22, 2013 on a Church in Peshawar and regarding threats to the Kalash tribe and Ismailies in Chitral, justice Jillani, the then chief justice, in part stated in his opinion:

“Most of the political institutions of consequence are in the process of evolution. However, the defining feature of a democratic governance is complete dedication and adherence in everyday life to the seminal principles of equity, justice and inclusion of all irrespective of their colour, creed, caste, sex or faith. The sustainability of democracy depends on how best these challenges are met. Democracy is not an unmixed blessing; on the one hand it confers respect for minorities’ rights and on the other it provides a platform where intolerance and hatreds get leeway leading to societal friction and violence. Such intolerance and hatreds have found their way in the social media as well and no effort has been made to check it.

“The International Institute for Justice Excellence adheres to the belief that intolerance undermines public confidence in the principle of equal access to justice. That one’s conscience is only free when there is no fear in exercising rights granted by law,” it said.

Justice Jillani is currently sitting ad hoc on the International Court of Justice in The Hague. He was also a judge of the Lahore High Court among many other notable achievements