Role of Non-Muslim Judges Of The Supreme Court In Promotion Of Inter-Faith

Harmony In Pakistan.
Syed Hamid Ali Bukhari, Ph.D. Scholar
Depot. Of Islamic Studies,
University of Gujrat
Email:makhdoom92@hotmail.com

Abstract:
Pakistan is a country of over 207.8 million people, and a home to people from diverse religious beliefs.
Pakistan is originally came into being as a consequence of an ideological struggle of religious freedom and
identity surrounding the Muslim minority of India. The founder of Pakistan Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali
Jinnah’s vision was to promote citizenship and inclusiveness in Pakistani society. Interfaith and
intercultural dialogue have the potential to bring people from across religious traditions and diverse
cultures together around shared social and political challenges. These resources highlight the perspectives
of religious leaders, scholars, activists, writers, and students working across differences to learn from
others and accomplish shared goals .Judiciary is a stakeholder of every state.in Pakistan Supreme court is
the highest institute of justice. According to constitution of Pakistan the Chief Justice of Pakistan and each
of other judges of the Supreme Court shall be appointed by the President in accordance with Article 175A,
inserted through 18th and 19th Constitutional amendments, i am presenting the role and contribution of
non-Muslim judges of Supreme Court of Pakistan who served for Pakistan and work hard to find the way
forward to promote religious tolerance and interfaith harmony in the society.1st The Agra-born Justice
Alvin Robert Cornelius (1903-1991) was Pakistan’s fourth Chief Justice from 1960 until 1968.he was
Christian by faith, In 1960, President Ayub Khan nominated Cornelius to become the Chief Justice of
Pakistan. He became the first Christian Chief Justice, becoming one of the most famous and influential
figures ever to serve on the Supreme Court.2nd Justice Dorab Framrose Patel (1924- 1997), was a Pakistani
jurist of Parsi descent, he served as a former Justice of Supreme Court of Pakistan and former Chief Justice
of Sindh High Court. Justice Patel was a prominent campaigner for human rights and interfaith harmony,
and was a founding member of the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) in 1987 and the co-founder
of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. 3rd Justice Rana Bhagwandas (1942 –2015), was a senior
judge and former acting chief justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. He remained the acting chief justice
during the 2007 judicial crisis in Pakistan,he was the first Hindu and the second non-Muslim to serve as
chief of the highest court in Pakistan. In this article I will highlight the major contribution of these non-
Muslim judges for promotion and assurance of interfaith harmony in Pakistan, This is high time that we
acknowledge the services of minorities for interfaith harmony and the leaders and preachers of different
faiths being practiced in Pakistan should sit together and find the way forward to promote religious
tolerance and interfaith harmony in the society. It would be highly appreciable if the Government may take
an initiative to bring the leaders and religious heads of all the minority communities as well as the Muslim
scholars and leaders to sit together and talk about their sensitive issues and find a way that may help
prevent unpleasant situations erupting in future.
Keywords: Constitution, human rights, Parsi, Christian, Hindu, Judiciary, Interfaith harmony,
Strategy, Intercultural Dialogue. Initiatives,