Hindu named Pakistan's Chief Justice

Pakistan has appointed Justice Rana Bhagwandas as the acting chief justice of its supreme court. He will be sworn in on Friday.

Justice Bhagwandas is the senior-most judge in the supreme court after Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, who is leaving for China on a 10-day visit. According to Pakistan's constitution, the senior-most judge replaces the chief justice in his absence.

Born in December 20, 1942 into a Hindu family in Sindh, Justice Bhagwandas joined the Pakistan judicial service in July 1967. He was elevated to the Pakistan High Court in 1994 and joined the supreme court in 2000.

Besides graduation in law, he has done his masters in Islamic Studies.

Justice Bhagwandas is the second non-Muslim judge in Pakistan to reach the top position in the judiciary. Justice A R Cornelius, a Christian, had served as the chief justice from 1960-68.

Justice Bhagwandas is considered an expert on constitutional law.