Former Attorney General of Pakistan

OBITUARY: THE LATE SYED SHARIFUDDIN PIRZADA Renowned veteran lawyer and former Attorney General of Pakistan, Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada died in Karachi on Friday, the 2nd of June, 2017 at the age of 94. His death has removed from the judicial scene one of Pakistan's most eminent legal luminaries whose legal genius helped shape the country's constitutional history in crucial moments. His sad demise marks the end of an era, and we collectively mourn the loss of a truly unique and brilliant individual whose service to the country and contribution to the development of jurisprudence will be cherished for generations to come. Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada's openhearted and noble demeanor left a strong mark on the hearts and minds of everyone he came into contact with. Known for his kindness and generosity, he was an excellent lawyer, a trusted advisor to his clients and a wonderful colleague and friend. Pirzada, to his-friends and colleagues was an amusing, soft-spoken man, with a ready smile for everyone. Those celebrating his life will share stories of a cultured man with a big heart, an unshakable trust in God and a passion for social justice. Politician, lawyer, statesman and author, Pirzada began his public career as secretary of Bombay Muslim League in 1945 and topped it as Pakistan's Attorney General and Foreign Minister in a public career that spanned seven decades. Awarded the Nishan-e-Imtiaz in 1998, Pirzada assisted Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah as his private secretary, in the 1940s. Born in Burhanpur, India, on June 12, 1923, Pirzada obtained his law degree in Mumbai and was called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn, London. It was in Mumbai during the Pakistan movement as an activist with the Bombay Muslim Students' Federation and Bombay Muslim League that he came close to the Quaid-i-Azam. After independence he took to teaching law at the Sindh Muslim Law College, Karachi, where he attracted the government's attention for his brilliance and in 1968 was appointed Pakistan's Attorney General. He was to hold this office thrice, his last tenure ending in 1985. He was adviser to the Constitution Commission of Pakistan, the Chairman of the Pakistan Company Law Commission and the Foreign Minister (1966-1968). He led several government delegations to international law conferences, including the Commonwealth Head of Government Conference, 1966, the Commonwealth Law Ministers and Attorney Generals Conference, 1971, and the United Nation's Law of the Sea Conference in 1978-80. He served as Chairman of the UN Sub- commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities between 1972 and 1979. He drafted the historic UN General Assembly Resolution 2,253 on the status of Jerusalem in 1967. Pirzada was appointed President of the Afro-Asian Legal Consultative Committee in 1969. He served as Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (1985-1988) and was a member of Committee of Eminent Jurists to review the OIC Charter 2007. He served as the chairperson of the experts' group for drafting the status of the Islamic International Court of Justice. In 1995, he was made a leader of Pakistan's delegation to the UN Human Rights Commission. Pirzada also represented the country in international courts, including in the Rann of Kutch case of 1965. He was engaged as counsel in the reference regarding Namibia before the International Court of Justice in 1970 and pleaded Pakistan's case against India in the over flights case at the International Civil Aviation Organization in 1971. In 1979, he was appointed Minister for Law and Parliamentary affairs and served on the post till 1985. Then, in 1993, he was appointed caretaker Foreign Minister. From 2002 to 2008, he served as an honorary senior adviser to the Prime Minister on foreign affairs, law, justice and human rights with the status of senior federal minister. He remained a member (ex-officio) of the National Security Council of Pakistan from 1999 to 2008. Pirzada was the author of several books, including 'Pakistan at a Glance' (1941); `Jinnah on Pakistan' (1943); 'Leaders' Correspondence with Jinnah, Evolution of Pakistan' (1962); 'Fundamental Rights and Constitutional Remedies in Pakistan' (1966); 'The Pakistan Resolution and The Historic Lahore Session' (1970); 'Foundation of Pakistan' (1971); 'Some Aspects of Quaid-e-Azam's Life' (1978); 'Collected Works of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah' (1984) and the `Dissolution of Constituent Assembly of Pakistan' (1985). Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada will be missed not only by his family, friends, and colleagues but also by all those who came across him, howsoever fleetingly, and were lucky to enjoy his company, wisdom and deep commitment to his profession. May his soul rest in eternal peace, Aameen!