Raja Muhammad Zafar-ul-Haq (; born 18 November 1935), is a Pakistani politician and lawyer, who served as senator from the Punjab, being elected on 12 March 2009. He had been the leader of the opposition in Senate from 2018 to 2021. He is serving as the Chairman of the Pakistan Muslim League (N), a centre-right party, since 20 February 2000.
A retired diplomat and lawyer by profession, Zafar-ul-Haq served as the Minister of Religious Affairs under Zia-ul-Haq from 1981 to 1985 and occupied the post again during the second administration of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from 1997 until being removed by Musharraf's coup d'état in 1999. Haq is known for his views for support of the religious conservatism but strongly advocated for religious temperance and humility.
In addition, he is also known for leading the constitutional initiatives to form the inquiry commission on the Kargil War, against Pervez Musharraf, whom he saw as a "traitor", and voiced support for civilian control of the military.
Early life and career in law
Zafar-ul-Haq was born in a small village, Matore, located in Kahuta Tehsil, Punjab in India into a Punjabi Muslim family of the Rajput-Janjua clan on 18 November 1935. His father, Raja Fazal Dad Khan, was a Deputy Superintendent of Police in the Punjab Police Department. Zafar-ul-Haq attended various high schools in Punjab, and matriculated from Sialkot in 1952.
He went to attend the Government College University in Lahore, where he secured his graduate with B.A. in Philosophy in 1956. He went on to attend the law school of the Punjab University to read law and political science, graduating with a LLB degree in civil law and a MSc in political science in 1958.
He started practicing law with the firm S.M. Zafar associates in Lahore, but later moved to Rawalpindi where he took cases and practiced law until 1981. In 1977, he was elected as the president of the Rawalpindi Bar Association and was serving as vice president of the Punjab Bar Council in 1981. Zafar-ul-Haq moved to Islamabad where he became member of the Supreme Court Bar Association and became the supreme court advocate from 1985 until 1987.
Political career
Political career summarized
• Raja Muhammad Zafar-ul-Haq formally joined Pakistan Muslim League after his graduation in 1956 and has remained loyal with this political party for more than fifty years.
• He was elected as the General Secretary of Pakistan Muslim League in District Rawalpindi from 1963 to 1971.
• He was elected as the President of Pakistan Muslim League, District Rawalpindi in 1971 and continued till 1981.
• Haq was elected as President Rawalpindi Bar Association 1977–78 and was elected as the Vice President High Court Bar for 1981–1982. • He was given a place in the Panel of experts for Pakistan Law Commission.
• Haq served as the Minister for Information & Broadcasting and Minister for Religious Affairs 1981–85 as nominee of Pakistan Muslim League Leadership.
• He served as the Chairman of National Committee for Social Reforms and submitted a full detailed report which was widely appreciated.
• He was the Head of a Committee to reform Pakistan Penal Code and Evidence Act. These Laws were amended accordingly. • Raja Zafar-ul-Haq served as the Ambassador of Pakistan to Egypt 1985–86.
• Served as the Political Adviser to the Prime Minister of Pakistan with the status of a Federal Minister from 1986–87.
• He represented Pakistan in the United Nations General Assembly in the 45th Session in 1990–91.
• He was elected as a Member of Pakistan Senate in 1991 for a term of six years, where he served until 1997.
• Elected Chairman Standing Committee on Law and Religious Affairs of the Senate 1991–94.
• He served as Chairman Pakistan Economy Commission and submitted detailed reports.
• He served as head of the commission to eradicate Riba and submitted a final report.
• He was elected as Central Vice President of Pakistan Muslim League (N) in 1996.
• Appointed Member, Board of Trustees, Islamic International University Islamabad in 1992–97.
• He was elected as the Secretary General, Motamar Al-Alam Al-Islam (World Muslim Congress) in 1992. The oldest International Organization of Muslims, established in 1926 which is a Class-I Consultative Status Observed with the UN and its allied bodies and Observer status with the OIC.
• Elected Leader of the Opposition, Senate of Pakistan from May 1994 – 1996.