Renowned jurist SM Zafar passes away

Renowned jurist and politician SM Zafar passed away, 24News HD TV Channel reported on Thursday.
According to the report, Syed Muhammad Zafar known as SM Zafar was ill for a long time and died at the age of 93.
He was born on December 06, 1930, in Rangoon, Burma, where his father worked in the construction business. 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. He began his career as a lawyer in the 1950s. He played an important role during the 1958 imposition of martial law in Pakistan and again in forcing amendments to the 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 from 1965 to 1969, he retired from the government in 1968 and started his own law practice. He was the father of the known jurist Ali Zafar.
Zafar and a few of his contemporaries founded the Human Rights Society of Pakistan in 1976. 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. He served the nation as a Federal Minister for Law and Justice (1965–69) and a Senator from 2003 to 2012, President High Court Bar Association, Lahore (1975), President of Pakistan's Supreme Court Bar Association (1979), Chairman of Human Right Society of Pakistan, Chairman of Cultural Association of Pakistan and Chancellor of Hamdard University. For some time, he was affiliated with the Pakistan Muslim League (Q).

Mohsin Naqvi's condolence

Punjab CM Mohsin Naqvi Thursday offered condolence to senior jurist S.M Zafar’s family expressing deep sorrow over his death, the 24NewsHD TV channel reported.

Mohsin Naqvi said that Zafar always took a stand for the rule of law. He said that his services to Pakistan will always be remembered.

Praying for the higher ranks of the jurist, he prayed that his bereaved family be granted patience.

Reporter: Malik Ashraf