Friday, September 2 2005 15:04 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Justice Rana Bhagwandas, the senior most judge of the Pakistani Supreme Court, today (Sept 2, 2005) took charge as the acting Chief Justice of the country, becoming the first Hindu to assume the top legal post.

63-year-old Justice Bhagwandas, one of the few Hindu judges in the country, took oath as Chief Justice at a simple ceremony at the Sindh bench of the Supreme Court in Karachi.

His appointment as acting Chief Justice came as the incumbent, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary, is leaving on a ten-day visit to China.

Bhagwandas, known for his hold on the constitutional law, was administered oath by Justice Saiyed Saeed Ashhad of the Apex court.

Several judges and officials of Sindh High court and local Government attended the ceremony.

Hailing from Karachi, Bhagwandas was one of the few Hindus who occupied the top judicial post in Pakistan.

Bhagwandas, who made his way up as sessions judge and judge of the Sindh High Court, joined the Pakistan judicial service in 1967. He also done his master in Islamic studies.

He is the second non-Muslim and first Hindu to assume the top post of the country.