Rana Bhagwandas dies of cardiac arrest at 73

The 73 year old, was the only Hindu and second non-Muslim to serve as the acting Chief Justice of Pakistan.

Rana Bhagwandas joined the bar in 1965 after two years of practicing law with Abdul Ghafoor Bhurgri, an eminent lawyer of Larkana, joined the Pakistani Judicial System in 1967. Later, he became a sessions judge, and subsequently, a judge of the Sindh High Court.

He joined the Supreme Court of Pakistan in the year 2000 after taking an oath of allegiance to Pervez Musharraf’s administration under the PCO. He served as the acting CJP from March 24, 2007 to 20 July 2007 till the SCP full court restored Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

Justice Bhagwandas refused to take oath under the PCO which was issued by then President of Pakistan General Musharraf and was among the 60 judges sacked on November 3, 2007. He retired in December 2007 and was reinstated in retired status.

Rana Bhagwandas worked as the Chairman of Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) of Pakistan from November 2009 to December 2012.

President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain, former president Asif Ali Zardari and Chief of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Altaf Hussain have expressed condolences to the family of Rana Bhagwandas.