Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, Pakistan’s 21st chief justice, has been awarded the 2025 Bolch Prize for the Rule of Law by the Bolch Judicial Institute at Duke University. The prestigious accolade recognises his unwavering commitment to judicial independence, religious freedom, and gender equality across South Asia and beyond.
In his acceptance speech at Duke University, Jillani expressed heartfelt appreciation, describing the award as a testament to shared global ideals — democracy, freedom, dignity, and the rule of law — which, he noted, are increasingly under threat.
“I am humbled to receive the Carl and Susan Bolch Prize for the Rule of Law, an honour that stands as a moral benchmark celebrating a lifetime of work or significant efforts toward preserving and promoting the rule of law globally,” he stated.
Reflecting on growing religious intolerance and extremism worldwide, Jillani referenced ongoing conflicts in regions such as Gaza, Nigeria, and India. He emphasized that no faith condones violence and that mutual respect is a common foundation across all religions.
He cited his landmark 2014 suo motu judgment following the Peshawar church bombing and threats to the Kailash tribe, which reinforced that religious freedom encompasses belief, expression, and practice. As part of that ruling, Jillani had directed the government to form a task force to promote religious harmony, revise curricula, curb hate speech, and protect minority worship sites — measures he deemed crucial for a functioning democracy.
“The judiciary must actively uphold constitutional values and safeguard the fundamental rights of all citizens — equality, freedom, and justice,” Jillani affirmed.
He also highlighted the significance of the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s anthem, “Justice For All”, which he authored. It has been incorporated into the court’s structure, both symbolically and literally, to reinforce the founding vision of Pakistan and the values that shaped its independence movement. “It also serves as a reminder that neglecting these values comes at a great cost,” he remarked.
Justice Jillani stressed that building a tolerant society is not the judiciary’s responsibility alone. Citizens from all walks of life must contribute to fostering justice and pluralism.
He concluded his address by urging the United States to continue serving as a beacon of democratic ideals and moral leadership on the global stage, quoting George Washington’s farewell address to underscore the need for principled international conduct.
“Law schools like this one play a vital role in producing public leaders who can advance the rule of law and act as agents of positive change, shaping national and international developments with their actions and ideals,” he added.
The Bolch Prize is awarded annually to individuals or organisations that have shown exceptional dedication to promoting the rule of law, judicial independence, and the legal frameworks that uphold democratic societies.
Profile of Justice Jillani:
Justice (retired) Tassaduq Hussain Jillani served as Pakistan’s 21st Chief Justice and retired on July 10, 2014, after over a decade on the Supreme Court bench. Born on July 6, 1949, he earned his LLB from the University of Punjab and began practicing law in 1974. He became a Supreme Court advocate in 1983, and in 1994, was appointed to the Lahore High Court. He joined the Supreme Court in 2004 and was reappointed in 2008 following the state of emergency.
Justice Jillani is widely respected for delivering transformative judgments on critical legal and social issues. These include upholding gender equality, affirming the right to education as a fundamental right, supporting dual nationality in an interconnected world, and enhancing standards in legal and medical education.
Among his most notable rulings are the affirmation of a woman’s right to marry by choice in Islam, and his landmark verdict protecting the rights of religious minorities in the aftermath of the 2013 church bombing in Peshawar.
In recognition of his principled stance and contributions, Jillani also received the 2023 International Human Rights Award from the American Bar Association and the 2020 J. Clifford Wallace Award from the J. Reuben Clark Law Society.
