Zafar nominated for SCBA president

LAHORE: The independent group of lawyers led by reputed human rights activist, Asma Jehangir, has nominated Barrister Syed Ali Zafar for the position of President of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), which choice has been widely appreciated in the legal community as a welcome change of fresh blood.
According to a press release having 30 years of legal experience firmly under his belt, Mr. Zafar - son of veteran constitutional export SM Zafar - holds qualifications from world-renowned Lincoln’s Inn and London School of Economic. He is currently a partner at Mandviwalla & Zafar, a Lahore-based law firm with offices across Pakistan and in Afghanistan and United Arab Emirates. He is the youngest candidate to contest the SCBA elections.
As a practicing advocate of the Supreme Court, Mr. Zafar is considered to be a thorough professional and has carried forward the principles of integrity inherited from his family with dignity. He has been involved in a vast array of constitutional cases including proper constitution of the Election Commission of Pakistan, control and correction of electoral rolls in the run-up to the 2013 general election and the rights of citizens to challenge the electoral process.
He has represented parties in cases pertaining to devolution of power under the Eighteenth Constitutional Amendment and the accompanying issue of the scope of the fundamental right to education, many cases of corruption like the National Insurance Company (NICL) scam and its political implications, validity of the policy on rental power plants (RPPs) as well as cases involving Bahria Town. A fierce advocate of lawyers’ rights, Zafar has represented Bar Councils and Associations in legal cases and election matters, has fought for the rights of judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts in disputes regarding their removal, and for eminent lawyers in cases initiated against them by the Bench. He is a regular speaker in conferences held in Pakistan and abroad and his speech at an international conference held by SCBA, titled “Fair Trial: Prospects and Implementation”, a bold comment on the dangers of overreaching judicial activism, was converted into a resolution by the SCBA. Mr. Zafar is an active member of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and a founder member of Saarc Law, a consortium of legal communities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
Well respected for his integrity and legal acumen, Zafar’s nomination has been hailed in the legal fraternity as it is believed that Barrister Zafar will uplift the image and confidence of public about lawyers and work for the welfare of the legal community. As one of his supporters put it: “Ali Zafar represents both the ideals of the youngest generation and the dignity and professionalism of the older.”