Muhammad Afzal Lone, retired Supreme Court Justice, dies at 92

Former Supreme Court judge, Justice (ret) Muhammad Afzal Lone passed away on Sunday, 24NewsHD TV channel reported.

He was 92. His funeral prayers will be offered after Asr prayers at House no 28, Judicial Housing Society near Thokar Niaz Baig, the TV channel reported.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed has expressed deep sorrow and grief over the demise of former judge Justice Afzal Lone. Other justices of the Supreme Court have also expressed their condolences on the death of the former judge. The court judges also prayed for the forgiveness of the deceased, a spokesman for the Supreme Court said.

Muhammad Afzal Lone joined the law profession and served as an advocate under the Lahore High Court from 1955 to 1978. He was President of the Bar Association Rawalpindi in 1974-75 and had been a Member of the Executive Council Allama Iqbal Open University and that of the Board of Trustees Lahore University of Management Sciences. He had also been the Chairman of the Punjab Bar Council Tribunal.

Muhammad Afzal Lone has been a Standing Council for Pakistan and Deputy Attorney General for Pakistan from 1975 to 1978 whereafter he was elevated as Judge of the Lahore High Court in 1978.

Justice Muhammad Afzal Lone was further elevated to the Supreme Court of Pakistan in 1990 and retired as a Judge of the Supreme Court, on superannuation in 1993 after a meritorious record of service at Bench and the Bar for about 40 years.

Justice Lone was elected to the Senate of Pakistan in March 1997 for a period of six years on a Pakistan Muslim League (N) ticket.

Justice Muhammad Afzal Lone was the Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics control and was also a Member of the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet, Establishment and Management Services and that of the Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs.

He was born in Gujrat on 4 July 1928. After having his early education from the local high school, he got a bachelor's degree from the Zamindar College Gujrat. His interest in law and the legal profession motivated him to join the Punjab University Law College wherefrom he got his degree in Law and Jurisprudence. Muhammad Afzal Lone took an active part in the freedom movement as a young and energetic student.