S.M. Zafar

S.M. Zafar, (born 1930) is one of the prominent Pakistani human rights activists, noted lawyer (Senior Advocate Supreme Court), politician, and former member of the Senate of Pakistan. For some time, he was also affiliated with Pakistan Muslim League (Q).[3]

S.M. Zafar
Member of the Senate of Pakistan
In office
March 2006 – March 2012[1]
PresidentAsif Ali Zardari
Prime MinisterYousaf Raza Gillani
Ministry of Justice
In office
1965 – 1969[2]
LeaderField Marshal Ayub Khan
President High Court Bar Association, Lahore
In office
1975
President Supreme Court Bar Association
In office
1979[2]
Chairman Human Right Society of Pakistan
Chairman Cultural Association of Pakistan
Chancellor of Hamdard University
Personal details
Born (1930-12-06) December 6, 1930[2]
Rangoon, Burma[2]
NationalityPakistani

Career

Zafar began his career as a lawyer in the 1950s.[4] He played an important role during the 1958 imposition of martial law in Pakistan and again in forcing amendments to Constitution of Pakistan of 1962, which at first did not have sufficient protections for basic human rights. After serving as a judge of the high court and as Pakistan's Minister for Law and Justice (Pakistan) from 1965 – 1969,[2] Zafar retired from the government in 1968 and started his own law practice.[4]

S.M. Zafar and a few of his contemporaries founded the Human Rights Society of Pakistan in 1976.[4]

He was awarded an honorary PhD degree in law at the University of the Punjab's 124th convocation. He retired from active law practice in 2014.[2]

Official posts

News media commentator

After retirement from his official government service in 1968, he has been a frequent commentator on current affairs in Pakistan.[3][5]

Personal life

Zafar was born on 6 December 1930 in Rangoon, Burma, where his father worked in the construction business.[6] His family hailed from the town of Shakargarh in Punjab. Following the Japanese occupation of Burma, his family returned to their native village in 1944.[6]

Bibliography
  • Through the Crisis (1971)
  • Who is Dictator? (Urdu: Dictator kaun?)
  • People, Parliament and Islam (Urdu: Awam, parliament and Islam)[4]
  • Hajj – A Journey in Obedience[4]
  • Views & Reviews (Urdu: Tazkaray-Jaizay)
  • Understanding Statutes (1997)
  • My Popular Law Cases (Urdu: Mere Mashoor Mukkadamay) (میرے مشہور مقد مے)
  • Pakistan Benaam Corruption (Urdu translation: Awam KI Adalat Mein)
  • Politics in the Court of Law (Urdu: Adalat Mein Siyasat)
  • Dialogues on the Political Chess Board
  • Be a Competent Lawyer (2014)[2]

References
  1. SM Zafar, listed member of Senate of Pakistan (2006-2012) Senate of Pakistan website, Retrieved 14 May 2018
  2. Profile of S.M. Zafar on goodreads.com website Retrieved 14 May 2018
  3. Senior lawyer SM Zafar instructed by wife amid television show on Panama verdict Daily Pakistan Global (newspaper), Published 29 July 2017, Retrieved 14 May 2018
  4. Richard H. Curtiss (August 1996). "S.M. Zafar– An Effective Legal Advocate for Human Rights". Washington Report on Middle East Affairs. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  5. Masses want no conflict in institutions: S.M. Zafar Dawn (newspaper), Published 26 February 2018, Retrieved 14 May 2018
  6. "S M Zafar: A Celebrity From Shakargarh". Shakargarh.net. 27 February 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2019.


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