S.M.Zafar - The CAP Podcast #6

Mr. Syed Muhammad Zafar, popularly known as S.M.Zafar is a Pakistani human rights activist, politician, and present Senator, PML-Q. He began his career as a lawyer, and served as a judge of the High Court as well as Pakistan’s minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs. He played an important role during the 1958 imposition of martial law in Pakistan and again in forcing amendments to Pakistan’s 1962 constitution, which at first did not have sufficient protections for basic human rights. The Citizens Archive of Pakistan had the privilege of meeting Mr. S.M.Zafar this summer. In this clip, he speaks about his migration journey from Yangun, Burma (his birthplace) to the newly created state of Pakistan.

S.M. Zafar, (born 1930) is a Pakistani human rights activist, noted lawyer (Senior Advocate Supreme Court), politician, and present senator, PML-Q.

Career

Zafar 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 Pakistan's 1962 constitution, 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 parliamentary affairs, Zafar retired from the government in 1968 and started his own law practice. He was awarded an honorary PhD degree in law at the University of Punjab's 124th convocation.

Official posts

• Federal Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Government of Pakistan (1965–69),


• President High Court Bar Association, Lahore (1975),


• President Supreme Court Bar Association (1976),


• Chairman Human Right Society of Pakistan.


• Chairman Cultural Association of Pakistan.


• Chancellor of Hamdard University.