Mohammad Afzal Cheema

Mohammad Afzal Cheema (1913–2008) was a Pakistani politician and judge. Cheema was the only Pakistani to have reached at the top positions in all the branches of a state.^{[citation needed]} He served as Acting President of Pakistan, Judge of the High Court and of the Supreme Court, Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan Federal Law Secretary. He is considered as the most prominent personality in the Cheema tribe and is commonly referred to as the "Chief of Cheemas".

Early age and education

Cheema was born in a small village named Kathore Kalan, 303 JB near Gojra, Toba Tek Singh in 1913. After graduation from Islamia College in 1932, he did his Masters in English Literature from the University of the Punjab in 1934. Later circumstances forced him to return to his native village and try his luck finding a suitable job in his home town in addition to looking over the affairs of the family and the village after the sudden demise of his father, who was also the head of the Village 303 JB. (Numberdar). But his thirst for professional education forced him to try his luck in the field of law in 1945. It was in year 1947 (The Brith Year of Pakistan) that he got his LLB degree and subsequently started law practice in Lyallpur now known as Faisalabad.

Participation in the Pakistan movement

Cheema played an active role in the Pakistan movement and supported Mohammad Ali Jinnah. He also participated in the gathering of Lahore on the 23 March 1940. He had several meetings with national poet Allama Iqbal and had cordial and personal relations with many Muslim leaders of the Indian subcontinent, including Mohammad Ali Bogra, Feroz Khan Noon, Syed Ata Ullah Shah Bukhari, Molvi Tamizuddin Khan and others.

Political career

Cheema has a great political record, he was elected as member of the West Pakistan Legislative Assembly in one unit system in 1951 and later elected as the Deputy Opposition Leader. He became the member of the National Assembly of Pakistan in 1962 from Toba Tek Singh (The largest Constituency of the country at that time). Subsequently he was elected as Senior Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan by a narrowest of margin of single vote,by defeating the Treasury Candidate. Throughout his tenure as Senior Deputy Speaker he served as the Speaker of the National Assenbly because of the illness of Molvi Tamiz Ud Din Khan and absence of Fazul Ul Qadir Ch. Cheema is the only Speaker in the history of National Assembly who casted his Casting vote in the House twice.Once in favour of the Treasury and once in favour of the Opposition. He also severed as the Acting President of Pakistan in the absence of Field Marshal Ayub Khan more than thrice.

Judicial career

Besides his political career, Cheema served as Judge of West Pakistan High Court and also as Federal Law Secretary. His main contribution as the Federal Law Secretary was the drafting of the First complete, comprehensive constitution of Pakistan now known as the 1973 Constitution. He was then elevated to the Supreme Court and retired as the Senior Most Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

Council of Islamic ideology

Adding to his achievements after his retirement from the Supreme Court, Cheema was made as the full time Chairman of Council of Islamic Ideology (Islami Nazeryati Council) and was responsible for the conversion of the parts of the Pakistani common law into Sharia Laws.

Serving Pakistan at the international level

At the United Nations

Cheema led the Pakistani Delegation at the United Nations annual conference twice. He also represented Pakistan in the Annual Conference of the Parliamentarians held in Caracas, Venezuela as leader of the Pakistani delegation.

Secretary General of the Muslim World League

Cheema also served Muslim World League an international Muslim organisation having an observer's status in the UN and OIC, as its Secretary General, Asian Branch for more than 15 years. His contribution as Secretary General of the MWL was the tremendous Humanitarian and Mediatory work done by him in general for the Muslim Ummah and in particular for the Muslims of the Asian region. His main accomplishments are:

• Approval and Opening of the first Islamic Centre (largest in the Asian Region) in the Xinjiang province of China.
• Repatriation efforts for the Stranded Pakistanis often referred to as Biharis in Bangladesh.
• Contribution for the revival of the Islamic Values and the religion in the various Asian States
• Successful Mediatory role amongst the various factions in Afghanistan to bring Peace in the Country.

Honours

• Apart from different awards conferred upon him by different governments, he was given the Highest Civil Award of South Korea awarded by the President Roh Tae-woo for his endeavours for bringing the two countries closer through the establishment of full fledge diplomatic relations and for the formation of the Pak Korea Friendship Association.

Active life

1. Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the West Pakistan Legislative Assembly. 1951-1955
2. Senior Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly. 1962-1965.
3. Acting President of Pakistan. More than thrice. 1962-1965.
4. Judge of the West Pakistan/Lahore High Court. 1965-1973.
5. Federal Law Secretary. 1973-1975.
6. Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. 1975-1979.
7. Chairman Council of Islamic Ideology. 1977-1980.
8. Secretary General of Muslim World League Asian Branch. 1980-2000.

References

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External links

• "Punjab Legislative Assembly - Second Assembly (May 7, 1951 to October 14, 1955)". http://pap.gov.pk/uploads/previous_members/L-1951-1955.htm. 

Persondata
Name	Cheema, Mohammad Afzel
Alternative names
Short description	Pakistani politician
Date of birth	1913
Place of birth	Kathore Kalan, 303 JB
Date of death	2008
Place of death	Islamabad