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Biography

Asif Saeed Khan Khosa (آصف سعید خان کھوسہ) is a retired Pakistani jurist who served as the 26th Chief Justice of Pakistan from 18 January 2019 to 20 December 2019.
Early Life and Family
Born on 21 December 1954 (age 71) in Dera Ghazi Khan, Punjab, Pakistan, he belongs to the prominent Khosa family (Punjabi Baloch tribe). He is the brother of:

Nasir Mahmood Khosa (retired senior civil servant and former Chief Secretary of Punjab, BPS-22).
Tariq Masood Khosa (senior police officer and former Director General of the Federal Investigation Agency).

He is married and has two daughters and four grandchildren. His father-in-law was the late Justice Nasim Hasan Shah, a former Chief Justice of Pakistan.
Education
Justice Khosa was a brilliant student with an outstanding academic record:

Matriculation in 1969 (secured 5th position in Punjab).
Intermediate from Government College, Lahore.
B.A. and M.A. in English Language and Literature from the University of the Punjab (1975), where he received a National Scholarship Award.
LL.M. from Queens' College, University of Cambridge, UK, with specialization in Public International Law.
Called to the Bar at the Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn, London.

He has also authored several books and remains engaged with legal scholarship and judicial education.
Legal Career
He began his professional journey as an advocate:

Enrolled as Advocate of the Lahore High Court on 13 November 1979.
Enrolled as Advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan on 12 September 1985.

He built a robust private practice, specializing particularly in criminal law, and taught law at various institutions. He was known for his sharp legal acumen, independence, and efficiency in case disposal.
Judicial Career

Elevated as Judge of the Lahore High Court in 2009 (or February 2010 per some records).
Elevated to the Supreme Court of Pakistan in 2010.
Served as a member of key benches, including in the Panama Papers case (where he dissented, arguing for disqualification of then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on grounds of dishonesty).
Also part of the bench that overturned the death sentence of Asia Bibi in the blasphemy case.
Sworn in as Chief Justice of Pakistan on 18 January 2019 (succeeding Justice Saqib Nisar). His tenure lasted until his retirement on 20 December 2019 upon reaching the age of superannuation.

During his brief but impactful tenure as CJP, he emphasized quick disposal of cases, judicial independence, court administration reforms, and access to justice. He is widely regarded as a fiercely independent-minded judge with a strong commitment to the rule of law.
Post-Retirement and Recognition
After retirement, Justice Khosa has remained active in legal academia, attending conferences, and contributing to judicial education. In 2022, he was selected by the International Institute for Justice Excellence (IIJE), The Hague, for the Administration of Justice Excellence Award in recognition of his contributions to judicial independence, human rights, legal reform, and court administration.
He is respected for his literary taste, principled stance, and dedication to the judiciary without external influence.