Justice Khawaja Muhammad Sharif

Justice Khawaja Muhammad Sharif was born on 9th December, 1948 in Lahore. He completed his MA Political Science in 1968 from Government College, Lahore. He also got Diplomas in Taxation and Labour Laws. He did his LLB from Law College, University of the Punjab, Lahore, in 1970.

He was enrolled as an Advocate of the Lower Courts in March, 1971. He joined the office of renowned lawyer Khawaja Sultan Ahmad, Senior Advocate Supreme Court of Pakistan and remained attached with him for about fifteen years. During that period, he was enrolled as Advocate of the High Court on 24/5/1973 and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan in 1979.

He started his independent practice in 1986. During practice Khawaja Sharif wrote the following seven law books; (i) Motor Accident Claims (ii) Press & Publication Ordinance (iii) Arbitration Act (iv) Company Law (v) West Pakistan Civil Courts Ordinance (vi) Law of Tort and (vii) Manual of Local Bodies Election Laws with Rules .

Throughout his legal profession, he remained devoted to hard-work and strove for the cause of justice and fair play. He always tried his best to work with honesty and integrity and remained contented with his practice.

He was elected twice President of District Bar Association, Lahore in 1989 and 1991. In that capacity, he represented Pakistan at the time of formation of SAARC Law Association in Sri Lanka in October, 1991. He was one of the signatory to Charter of SAARC Law Association at Colombo, Sri Lanka.

He was appointed as Advocate General of Punjab in May 1997 and was elevated as Judge of the Lahore High Court, Lahore in May, 1998.

He was deposed on 3rd November, 2007 along-with the Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary and around sixty Judges of Supreme Court of Pakistan and High Courts. Movement of lawyers for restoration of deposed judiciary continued for about two years and then on 16/03/2009, all the deposed Judges, who had not taken Oath by then, were restored to their position of 2nd November, 2007. Justice Khawaja Sharif took oath as the Chief Justice of Lahore High Court on 14/04/2009.

During the period from 3rd November, 2007 to 15th March, 2009, he travelled extensively within Punjab and Karachi and addressed almost all the Bars for upholding the rule of law.

He remained Chairman Zakat & Usher Council Punjab on the elevation of Justice Muhammad Rafique Tarar as President Islamic Republic of Pakistan. He also remained Member Evacuee Trust Property Board of Pakistan.

Throughout his legal profession, he remained very submissive in his attitude and devoted himself to hard work and also for the cause of justice and fair-play. He always tried his best to work with honesty and integrity and remained contended with his practice.

He carries a strong faith in Allah (Almighty) and Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) and sought their blessings. He always worked for the betterment of the public and members of the legal profession in particular as he succeeded in securing 500 plots for the Lawyers community and 25 plots for the employees of the District Bar Association, Lahore from the Provincial Government as president District Bar Association, Lahore.

He has travelled to United Kingdom, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Philippines and Saudi Arabia and had the honour to perform Umra and Hajj many a times. He is author of five books relating to Journey to different countries called Safar Namas, titled as Shakh-e-Nazuk Ke Ashiyane, Safar Bazariya Dosti Bus, Kuchh Ranaiyaan, Kashmir Jannat Benazeer and Deedar-e-Kaaba.

He visited India four times. His last visit to India was in December, 2005 when he was invited along-with eight Judges of the Lahore High Court, Lahore, their spouses and the Senior Lawyers from the Province of Punjab at the occasion of Golden Jubilee of Punjab Haryana High Court. The said delegation was headed by him and during that period he also visited Darbaar Sahib Amritsar, Jallianwala Baag and particularly Ajmer Sharif, Mazar Sharif of Hazrat Mujjadid Alaf Sani.

He went to Dehli by Dosti (Friendship) Bus along-with his family twice as he was on cordial terms with Chief Justice of Delhi High Court, other judges and prominent lawyers of the said High Court. He has also travelled to Sirinagar, Anantnag, Dehli, Ajmer and Agra along-with his wife.

During his visit to occupied Kashmir, he wrote a book Kashmir Jannat Benazir (Kashmir like heaven). He had the opportunity to meet the people of Kashmir especially on his visit to Sirinagar High Court when he met Chief Justice and Judges of the said High Court.

He was elected thrice as a Member of the Municipal Corporation in 1983, 1987 and 1991, in the elections, which were held purely on non-party basis.

His late father Khawaja Muhammad Sadiq migrated from Amritsar in 1947. His grand-father migrated from Anant Nag, Kashmir to Amritsar, about a century back. His grand-father was in the business of Pashmeena with a shop at Lower Bazar Shimla, as told by his late father, who along with his elder brother, started business of cloth in the New Anarkali Bazar, Lahore by the name and style of Shimla Cloth House. The said shop is still there with the same name and style which is, now, being run by his nephew.