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First Ombudsman Sardar Muhammad Iqbal
Observer Report
Chief Justice (Retd) Sardar Muhammad Iqbal, the first Ombudsman of
Pakistan, was born in Kashmir. He obtained his law degree from the
Punjab University, establishing a record in academic excellence
which remains unbeaten. Soon afterwards he enrolled as an advocate
with the Lahore High Court and quickly rose to prominence in the
profession. He was elected a member of the Pakistan Bar Council in
1958.
At the age of 40 he was appointed a permanent Judge of the West
Pakistan High Court. He also served as a member of the Pakistan
Election Commission from 1964 to 1967.
In October 1972, Justice Iqbal was elevated as the Chief Justice of
the Lahore High Court, in which capacity he also acted as Governor
of Punjab on a number of occasions.
On amendment in the Constitution in 1976, making the post of Chief
Justice a tenure post for four years, he took a stand on principle
and opted to retire instead of continuing as the senior-most judge.
Apart from lawyer and High Court Judge, Justice Iqbal has been a
popular teacher. Starting in 1948 as part-time Lecturer in the
University Law College, Lahore. He became Associate Professor in
1957. In recognition of his services and merit as a teacher of law,
the Punjab University appointed him Professor Emeritus in Law in
1985.
Justice Iqbal represented Pakistan at the World Association of
Judges in Bangkok in 1969 and again in Ivory Coast in 1973, where he
was elected to its three committees.
He attended the Round Table Conference of the Association in 1970
and was elected to its Executive Committee in its meeting in
Belgrade in 1972. Later, he participated in the International
Conference on Islam at Lake Como, Italy, in 1975; and the same year
he was elected President of the World Association of Judges
(Appellate Court Division) in Washington.
Justice Iqbal has been associated with either the Senate or
Syndicate of almost every university in Punjab, as well as their
Selection Boards. The National College of Arts at Lahore has
received his particular attention. He was also Chairman of a number
of prestigious private hospitals and institutions of public welfare.
His appointment as Ombudsman was announced by the President of
Pakistan in January 1983, and was sworn in by him on 8th August of
that year.
PU has organized a condolence reference for Justice (r) Sardar
Muhammad Iqbal today (Monday) at the auditorium of Institute of
Bio-Chemistry and Bio-Technology (IBB) at 1:30pm. PU syndicate
members and teachers will participate in the condolence reference
and on this occasion rich tributes will be paid to Justice (r)
Sardar for his 38-year services in Punjab University.
Meanwhile, PU Law college, where Justice (r) Sardar Iqbal had been
teaching as an emeritus professor for a long period, would hold a
special reference in his memory during this week.
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