WASHINGTON, Nov 14: The Harvard Law School, one of the world’s most prestigious legal institutions, has decided to award Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry its highest honour.

The award -- the Harvard Law School Medal of Freedom -- is given to selected personalities for their contributions to freedom, justice, and equality. Former South African President Nelson Mandela is one of the previous recipients of this award.

“As lawyers who value freedom and the rule of law, we at Harvard Law School want Chief Justice Chaudhry and all of the courageous lawyers in Pakistan to know that we stand with them in solidarity,” said Dean Elena Kagan.

“We are proud to be their colleagues in the cause of justice, and we will do all we can to press for the prompt restoration of constitutionalism and legality in Pakistan,” she said.

The school plans to hold a grand ceremony to award the medal and hopes that Justice Chaudhry will be allowed to attend.

The statement announcing the award identifies Mr Chaudhry as Pakistan’s chief justice and not as a deposed or former judge. The school identified several Harvard graduates who are participating in the movement against the emergency rule. To raise awareness about the events in Pakistan, the Harvard South Asia Initiative is hosting campus-wide events on Friday. “Although Mr Chaudhry has been placed under house arrest and is not free to leave Pakistan, Dean Kagan has reached out to the chief justice regarding the award and hopes that he’ll be able to come to the Law School to receive it when the state of emergency is lifted,” the statement said.

The award bears the image of Charles Hamilton Houston who helped abolish separate school system for black and white students in America.