Raja Zafar ul Haq

Raja Muhammad Zafar-ul-Haq (Urdu: راجہ ظفرالحق; born 18 November 1935), is a Pakistan senator from the Punjab, serving since March 2009, diplomat, and conservative figure.

His statesmanship started in 1980s and had a successful diplomatic career before his entry in national politics. A practising lawyer, he served in the Ministry of Religious Affairs as its minister from 1997–99, and played a crucial role in religious policy of the country. Since 2000, he has been chairman of the Pakistan Muslim League and is the current leader of the house in the senator as well.

Life and education

Raja M. Zafar-ul-Haq son of Raja Fazal Dad Khan was born in Matore, Tehsil Kahuta Rawalpindi on 18 November 1935, a descendant of the Raja Kala Khan Janjua clan of Rajput, he was born in the Rawalpindi district of the Punjab. He graduated from Government College, Lahore in 1956. He formally joined Pakistan Muslim League after graduation 1956 and has remained loyal with this political party for more than fifty years. He obtained a masters in political science from Punjab University, and a LL.B. from Punjab Law College, Lahore in 1958, then practised law from 1958 to 1981, and from 1987 to date as an advocate in the Supreme Court.

Political career

He was appointed as general secretary of Pakistan Muslim League in Rawalpindi district from 1963 to 1971. He was appointed as the president of Pakistan Muslim League District Rawalpindi in 1971 and continued till 1981. He was also nominated as a member of Central Working Committee of the Pakistan Muslim League in 1973. He was elected president of the Rawalpindi Bar Association 1977–78, and was elected vice-president of the High Court Bar in 1981.

He was placed on the Panel of Experts for Pakistan Law Commission. He was appointed as federal minister for Information & Broadcasting and Religious Affairs 1981–85. He has served as ambassador of Pakistan to Egypt in 1985–86. He was appointed as political adviser to the Prime Minister of Pakistan with the status of a Federal Minister 1986–87. He represented Pakistan in the United Nations General Assembly in the 45th Session in 1990–91. He was elected to the Pakistain Senate in 1991 for a six-year term, and again in 1997. He was elected as chairman of the Standing Committee on Law and Religious Affairs of the Senate 1991–94. He was appointed a member of the Board of Trustees of Islamic International University, Islamabad in 1992–97.^[1]

In 1992 he was elected as secretary general of Motamar Al-Alam Al-Islam (World Muslim Congress) (the oldest international organization of Muslims, established in 1926 at Makkah, Saudi Arabia, having Class-I Consultative Status with the UN and its allied bodies and Observer Status with the O.I.C.).

In 1996 he was appointed as central vice-president of the Pakistan Muslim League. He was elected as the Senate opposition leader from May 1994 – 1996, and later o, was elected as the leader of the House in Senate of Pakistan in 1997–99. He was also appointed as federal minister for Religious Affairs in July 1997 – October 1999.

In 1997 he was re-elected as the secretary general of Motamar Al-Alam Al-Islami, and again in 2002 and 2007.

In 2000 he was elected as chairman of the Pakistan Muslim League.

In 2009 he was elected to the Pakistani Senate for a six-year term. He was elected as the leader of the Independent Opposition Group (consisting of more than 6 parliamentary parties) in the Senate of Pakistan in 2009.

During his tenure he also helped famous timber mafia don Raja Sagheer to legalise his illegal timber smuggling business which caused a massive destruction to protected forest and roads linking to Villages salgraan , Sehr , Lehri and Nara for his political gain..

In September 2011 he was quoted as saying that Islam is the prime source behind the uprising movements in the Middle East and North Africa.^[2]

References

External links

• Official Pakistan Muslim League (N) website
• UK website