Muhammad Zafarullah Khan

Chaudhry Sir Muhammad Zafarullah Khan, KCSI
Born	February 6, 1893(1893-02-06) Sialkot, British India
Died	September 1, 1985(1985-09-01) (aged 92) Lahore, Pakistan
Resting place	Bahishti Maqbara Rabwah, Pakistan
Nationality	Pakistani
Alma mater	King's College London (LL.B.) Government College, Lahore
Occupation	British-India 1st Railway Minister, Pakistan's 1st Foreign Minister (1947–1954) Pakistan's Permanent Representative at the UN (1961-1964) President of the UN General Assembly (1962-1963) President of the International Court of Justice (1970-1973)
Religion	Islam
Awards	Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of India, 1935

Chaudhry Sir Muhammad Zafarullah Khan, KCSI (February 6, 1893 - September 1, 1985) was a Pakistani politician, diplomat, international jurist, and scholar of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, known for drafting the Pakistan Resolution,^[1] for his representation of Pakistan at the United Nations, and serving as a judge at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

The son of the leading attorney of his native city Sialkot, Zafarullah Khan studied at Government College, Lahore and received his LL.B. from King's College London, in 1914.He was called Chaudhury because of his belonging to the prestigious jat clan of Sahi which held sway over Sialkot since ancient times. He practiced law in Sialkot and Lahore, became a member of the Punjab Legislative Council in 1926, and was a delegate in 1930, 1931, and 1932 to the Round Table Conferences on Indian reforms in London, England. In 1931–1932 he was president of the Muslim League, and he sat on the British Viceroy's Executive Council as its Muslim member from 1935 to 1941. He led the Indian delegation to the League of Nations in 1939, and from 1941 to 1947 he served as a judge of the Federal Court of India.

Prior to the partition of India in 1947, Zafarullah Khan drafted the Pakistan Resolution and presented the Muslim League's view of the future boundaries of Pakistan to Sir Cyril Radcliffe, the man designated to decide the boundaries between India and Pakistan. Upon the independence of Pakistan, Zafarullah Khan became the new country's minister of foreign affairs and served concurrently as leader of Pakistan's delegation to the United Nations (1947–1954). From 1954 to 1961, he served as a member of the International Court of Justice at The Hague.^[2] He again represented Pakistan at the United Nations (1961–1964) and served as president of the UN General Assembly in 1962 to 1963. Returning to the International Court of Justice in 1964, he served as the court's president from 1970 to 1973.^[3]

Career

Muhammad Zafrulla Khan was elected a member of the Punjab Legislative Council in 1926 and presided at the Delhi Meeting of the All-India Muslim League in 1931, where he advocated the cause of the Indian Muslims through his presidential address. He participated in the Round Table Conferences held from 1930 to 1932 and became the Minister of Railways in May, 1935. In 1939, he represented India in the League of Nations. He was appointed the Agent General of India in China in 1942 and represented India as the Indian Government's nominee in the Commonwealth Relations Conference in 1945, where he spoke India's cause for freedom.

From 1935 to 1941, he was member of the Executive Council of the Viceroy of India. During this period, Viceroy Lord Linlithgow, told the leaders of the Muslim League that the Government of Great Britain intended to divide India in three dominions: one for the Hindus, Muslims, and Rulers of Princely States. Within the Muslim League Working Committee, various sub-committees were established, numerous proposals were presented with the final decision resting with the British. However, when the British saw that their objectives could not be met, they unilaterally rejected all proposals submitted by the Muslims. At that point, Zafarullah Khan was asked to submit a proposal on the partition of India. On that subject, the Viceroy wrote the Secretary of State for India:

Upon my instruction Zafarullah wrote a memorandum on the subject. Two Dominion States. I have already sent it to your attention. I have also asked him for further clarification, which, he says, is forthcoming. He is anxious, however, that no one should find out that he has prepared this plan. He has, however, given me the right to do with it what I like, including sending a copy to you. Copies have been passed on to Jinnah, and, I think, to Sir Akbar Hydari. While he, Zafarullah, cannot admit its authorship, his document has been prepared for adoption by the Muslim League with a view to giving it the fullest publicity.^[1]

— Lord Linlithgow, April 12, 1940

The Viceroy further explained that since Zafarullah Khan was a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, he had to be cautious. Orthodox Muslims would become irritated if they found that this proposal was prepared by an Ahmadi. The Viceroy said that Muhammad Ali Jinnah had been given a copy to gain acceptance from the Muslim League and publicize its contents. Akbar Hydari was given a copy because he was responsible for fund raising. Twelve days after it had been proposed, the Muslim League adopted the proposal at the Lahore Conference, calling it the Pakistan Resolution.^[1]

In September 1941, Zafarullah Khan was appointed Judge of the Federal Court of India which he held until June 1947. At the request of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, he represented the Muslim League in July 1947 before the Radcliffe Boundary Commission and presented the case of the Muslims in a highly commendable manner. Zafrullah Khan advised the Nawab of Junagadh that if he decided to join his state with Pakistan, it would be both moral and legal. The Nawab then proceeded to announce his decision.^[4]

In October 1947, Zafrullah represented Pakistan in United Nations General Assembly as the head of the Pakistan delegation and advocated the position of the Muslim world on the Palestinian issue. That year, he was appointed as Pakistan's 1st Foreign Minister, a post he held for 7 years.

In 1948 to 1954, he represented Pakistan at the United Nations Security Council and where he advocated the case of liberation of the occupied Kashmir, Libya, Northern Ireland, Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia, Morocco, and Indonesia.

In 1954, he became Judge of the International Court of Justice in The Hague, which he held until 1961. He became the Vice President of the International Court of Justice, the Hague, in 1958 and remained so until 1961. Between 1961 to 1964, he was Pakistan's Permanent Representative at the UN while at the same time, became President of the UN General Assembly in 1962 for 2 years.

Religion

As an active member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Zafarullah Khan held the office of president of the Lahore, Pakistan branch of the community from 1919 to 1935. He served as Secretary to Khalifatul Masih II, the second successor of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, at Majlis-e-Shura for the first time in 1924, continuing for seventeen more sessions. In addition, he was a member of the delegation which represented the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community at the All Parties Conference held in 1924. In 1927, he acted successfully as representative counsel for the Muslims of the Punjab in the contempt of court case against the Muslim Outlook.

As Pakistan's first Foreign Minister, Zafarullah Khan addressed the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan in the days leading up to passing of the Objectives Resolution. The Objectives Resolution, which combined features of both Western and Islamic democracy, is one of the most important documents in the constitutional history of Pakistan. It was designed to provide equal rights for all citizens of Pakistan, regardless of race, religion or background. Zafarullah Khan was quoted saying:

It is a matter of great sorrow that, mainly through mistaken notions of zeal, the Muslims have during the period of decline earned for themselves an unenviable reputation for intolerance. But that is not the fault of Islam. Islam has from the beginning proclaimed and inculcated the widest tolerance. For instance, so far as freedom of conscience is concerned the Quran says "There shall be no compulsion" of faith...^[5]

— Muhammad Zafarullah Khan, Addressing the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan, c. 1949

In March 1958, Zafarullah Khan performed Umrah while at the same time, visited the shrine of Muhammad in Medina, Saudi Arabia. During his visit, he met with the King of Saudi Arabia Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia, staying in the Royal Palace as the King's personal guest. In 1967, Zafarullah Khan returned to Saudia Arabia to perform Hajj, a religious duty that must be carried out at least once in a lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so.

Death

After having lived in England from 1973 to 1983, Zafarullah Khan returned to Pakistan until his death in Lahore on September 1, 1985 due to a protracted illness.^[6] He was buried in Bahishti Maqbara in Rabwah, Pakistan, a cemetery established by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

Bibliography

Books

• Khan, Muhammad Zafarullah (1962). The Excellent Exemplar Muhammad: The Messenger of Allah. London Mosque. pp. 65. ISBN B0000EE0II. http://www.alislam.org/library/zafar/exampler.html. Retrieved 2011-03-09. 

• Khan, Muhammad Zafarullah. The Message of Islam. http://www.alislam.org/books/message/index.html. Retrieved 2011-03-09. 

• Khan, Muhammad Zafarullah. Victory of Prayer Over Prejudice. London Mosque. http://www.alislam.org/books/victory/index.html. Retrieved 2011-03-09. 

• Khan, Muhammad Zafarullah (2001). Letter to a Dear One. Islam Internation Publications. pp. 116. ISBN 096564494X. http://www.alislam.org/library/books/lettertoadearone/LettertoaDearOne.pdf. Retrieved 2011-03-09. 

• Khan, Muhammad Zafarullah (2006). Hazrat Maulvi Nooruddeen Khalifatul Masih I. Islam International Publications. pp. 350. ISBN 853728489. http://www.alislam.org/library/books/HazratMaulviNooruddeen.pdf. Retrieved 2011-03-09. 

• Khan, Muhammad Zafarullah (1967). Islam and Human Rights. Islam International Publications. pp. 79. ISBN 853720402. http://www.alislam.org/library/books/Islam-HR.pdf. Retrieved 2011-03-09. 

• Khan, Muhammad Zafarullah (1967). Wisdom of the Holy Prophet. Islam International Publications. pp. 91. ISBN 1853720305. http://www.alislam.org/library/books/WisdomOfHolyProphet.pdf. Retrieved 2011-03-09. 

• Khan, Muhammad Zafarullah (1962). Islam - It's Meaning for Modern Man. Islam International Publications. pp. 386. ISBN 0710003412. http://www.alislam.org/library/books/ISLAM-ItsMeaningForModernMan.pdf. Retrieved 2011-03-09. 

• Khan, Muhammad Zafarullah. Punishment of Apostacy in Islam. Islam International Publications. http://www.alislam.org/books/apostacy/index.html. Retrieved 2011-03-09. 

• Khan, Muhammad Zafarullah (1991). Women in Islam. Islam International Publications. pp. 39. ISBN 1853720356. http://www.alislam.org/library/WOMANINISLAM.pdf. Retrieved 2011-03-09. 

• Khan, Muhammad Zafarullah (1980). Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets. Routledge & Kegan Paul. http://www.alislam.org/library/books/muhammad_seal_of_the_prophets/preface.html. Retrieved 2011-03-09. 

• Khan, Muhammad Zafarullah (1978). Ahmadiyyat: The Renaissance of Islam. Tabshir Publications. pp. 370. http://www.alislam.org/library/books/AhmadiyyatRenaissanceofIslam.pdf. Retrieved 2011-03-09. 

• Khan, Muhammad Zafarullah (1978). My Mother. London Mosque. pp. 117. http://www.alislam.org/library/books/MyMother.pdf. Retrieved 2011-03-09. 

• Khan, Muhammad Zafarullah (1978). Deliverance from the Cross. London Mosque. pp. 110. ISBN 0855250143. http://www.alislam.org/library/books/Deliverance-from-the-Cross-20080607MN.pdf. Retrieved 2011-03-09. 

• Khan, Muhammad Zafarullah. Islam and Modern Family (Audio Book). http://www.alislam.org/smil/islamandscience.ram. Retrieved 2011-03-09. 

Speeches

Khan, Muhammad Zafarullah (1958-09-10). The Contribution of Islam to the Solution of World Problems (Speech). 16th Congress of International Association for Religious Freedom. Chicago, USA. http://www.alislam.org/library/ContributionofIslam.html. Retrieved 2011-03-09. 

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Khan, Wali. "Facts are Facts: The Untold Story of India's Partition". pp. 40–42. http://www.awaminationalparty.org/books/factsarefacts.pdf. Retrieved March 9, 2011. 
2. ^ "Sir Muhammad Zafrulla Khan (Pakistan)". http://www.un.org/ga/55/president/bio17.htm. Retrieved March 9, 2011. 
3. ^ "Brief Life Sketch of Chaudhry Sir Muhammad Zafarullah Khan". http://www.alislam.org/library/zafar1.html. Retrieved March 8, 2011. 
4. ^ Singh, Iqbal. Between Two Fires: Towards an Understanding of Jawaharlal Nehru's Foreign Policy, Volume 2. pp. 41–44. 
5. ^ Shourie, Arun. "Surely, the Basic Lesson Flows from the Basic Premise". http://arunshourie.voiceofdharma.com/articles/19970721.htm. Retrieved March 10, 2011. 
6. ^ Maulana Dost Muhammad Shahid Sahib. "Brief Life Sketch of Chaudhry Sir Muhammad Zafarullah Khan". Al Islam. Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. http://www.alislam.org/library/zafar1.html. Retrieved July 23, 2011. 

External links

• Sir Muhammad Zafrulla Khan in United Nations - Short Video Clips
• Video - President of the seventeenth session of General Assembly
• Video - First Foreign Minister of Pakistan in UN
• Pictures of Sir Muhammad Zafrulla Khan
• Elected President of the seventeenth session of the General Assembly (UN)
• Round Table Conferences (1930-33)
• Remembering Zafrulla Khan by Khalid Hasan
• Chaudhry Muhammad Zafarullah Khan's Services to Pakistan and The Muslim World
• Brief Life Sketch of Chaudhry Sir Muhammad Zafarullah Khan
• Forgotten: Sir Zafrullah Khan (1893-1983) by Yasser Latif Hamdani
• Son of Liaqut Ali Khan on services of Sir Zafarullah Khan

Political offices
Preceded by Office created	Foreign Minister of Pakistan 1947 – 1954	Succeeded by Muhammad Ali Bogra
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Prince Aly Khan	Pakistan Ambassador to the United Nations 1961 – 1964	Succeeded by Syed Amjad Ali
Preceded by Mongi Slim	President of the United Nations General Assembly 1962 – 1963	Succeeded by Carlos Sosa Rodriguez
Preceded by Feodor Kojevnikov	President of the International Court of Justice 1970 – 1973	Succeeded by Hersch Lauterpacht

Persondata
Name	Sahi, Muhammad Zafrullah Khan
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1893-02-06
Place of birth	Sialkot, British India
Date of death	1985-09-01
Place of death	Lahore, Pakistan