Sahibzada Muhammad Ishaq Zaffar

Born on 12 September 1944 in Bani Hafiz, a village of Hattian Bala, Azad Kashmir. Zaffar belonged to the spiritual family of Bani Hafiz, Hattian Bala which produced saints and spiritual leaders which are quiet well known in the locality.{{Cite web|url=http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/world/leader-of-opposition-in-pak-assembly-dies/11638.html|title=Leader of opposition in PaK assembly dies|website=www.greaterkashmir.com|access-date=2016-03-12}} His father's name was Hafiz Abdul Latif. Hafiz Jamal ud din was his great-grandfather.{{cite web|author=Engr.M.Azad Khan |url=http://kashmirsunshine.blogspot.com/2012/11/district-muzzafarabad.html |title=Kashmir Sunshine: MUZAFFARABAD |publisher=Kashmirsunshine.blogspot.com |date=2012-11-24 |accessdate=2016-03-12}} Hafiz Abdul Qudoos was his uncle. Zaffar was born as an orphan, and raised by his uncle Hafiz Mian Muhammad Yunus, a local Sufi saint whose tomb is now a shrine in the village.{{cite web |author=metatags generator |url=http://www.ajktours.com/index.php/2011/05/shrines-in-muzaffarabad/ |title=Religious spots in ajk, beautiful places in ajk |publisher=Ajktours.com |date=2016-03-07 |accessdate=2016-03-12 |archive-date=1 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160601082601/http://www.ajktours.com/index.php/2011/05/shrines-in-muzaffarabad/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://www.ajktourism.gov.pk/index.php/j-stuff/religious-tourism |title=Religious Tourism |publisher=Ajktourism.gov.pk |date=1975-04-11 |accessdate=2016-03-12}}

Zaffar matriculated from Chikar Tehsil of Muzaffarabad (now in Hattian Bala) and then went to Karachi to study law. He also earned his master's degree in political science and Urdu from Karachi University.

Before joining politics he was a primary school teacher. Zaffar left the government teaching job and joined Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in the early 1970s. He was among the founding members of party Pakistan Peoples Party in Azad Kashmir.

Zaffar was a law graduate, and remained bar president of Muzaffarabad Bar.{{citation needed|date=April 2016}} Zaffar was a supporter of Bhuttos{{cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/177375/protests-held-against-interpol-notices |title=Protests held against Interpol notices - Newspaper |publisher=Dawn.Com |date=2006-02-05 |accessdate=2016-03-12}} and he almost spent 30 months in jail for opposition to Zia ul Haq and Pervez Musharraf regimes.{{cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1128826 |title=Shaken but not stirred: the movement against Zia - Newspaper |publisher=Dawn.Com |date=2014-08-31 |accessdate=2016-03-10}}{{cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/389364/ajk-people-s-party-leaders-arrested |title=AJK People's Party leaders arrested - Newspaper |publisher=Dawn.Com |date=2005-04-16 |accessdate=2016-03-10}} During the martial law in Pakistan he remained vocal for restoration of democracy in Pakistan under the banner of Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD).{{cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/376871/fahim-zafar-to-attend-muzaffarabad-rally |title=Fahim, Zafar to attend Muzaffarabad rally - Newspaper |publisher=Dawn.Com |date=2004-12-13 |accessdate=2016-03-12}}

He was considered among the members of the party which were close to Benazir Bhutto.{{cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/387889/democracy-can-end-unrest-benazir |title=Democracy can end unrest: Benazir - Newspaper |publisher=Dawn.Com |date=2005-04-05 |accessdate=2016-03-12}} He remained as president of Pakistan peoples party AJK and was member of central executive committee{{cite web |url=http://archives.dailytimes.com.pk/briefs/26-Aug-2005/on-the-record |title=on the record |publisher=Archives.dailytimes.com.pk |date= |accessdate=2016-03-10 }}{{Dead link|date=November 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IngMAQAAMAAJ&q=sahibzada+ishaq+zaffar |title=The last colony: Muzaffarabad-Gilgit-Baltistan - P. Stobdan, D. Suba Chandran, India Research Press, University of Jammu. Centre for Strategic and Regional Studies - Google Books |date=2010-07-12 |accessdate=2016-03-10|last1=Stobdan |first1=P. |last2=Suba Chandran |first2=D. |isbn=9788183860673 }} He accompanied Benazir Bhutto to rallies and election campaigns. He was very good orator even Benazir Bhutto appreciated his quality of speaking.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INgmJw9goh4 |title=Benazir bhutto speech on death of sahibzada ishaq zafar azad kashmir |publisher=YouTube |date=2010-07-26 |accessdate=2016-03-10}}{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1370&dat=19881117&id=paEVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jQsEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3829,3027709&hl=en|title = Manila Standard - Google News Archive Search}} He represented Azad Kashmir Government in the United Nations regarding the Kashmir conflict.{{cite web |url=https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/pakgovnet-kashmir/conversations/messages/6 |title=Yahoo! Groups |publisher=Groups.yahoo.com |date=1999-02-11 |accessdate=2016-03-10 |archive-date=7 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507152520/https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/pakgovnet-kashmir/conversations/messages/6 |url-status=dead }}

During many up and downs Ishaq Zaffar remained steadfast to Pakistan Peoples Party.From 1996 to 2001, he was senior minister in Barrister Sultan Mahmood's led PP government.

{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=autVo01f2AsC&q=azad+kashmir |title=The Untold Story of the People of Azad Kashmir - Christopher Snedden - Google Books |date=2011-07-05 |isbn=9780231800204 |accessdate=2016-03-12|last1=Snedden |first1=Christopher }}

He always supported the continuation of parliamentary mechanism and improvement through it .

In July 2004 he was made president of Bhutto's PPP Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Despite zaffar's loyalty to the Party and supporting Barrister Sultan Mehmood in 1995 as president of party, Sultan did not accept Zaffar as president of party and formed his party Pakistan Peoples Muslim League{{cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/208872/services-of-sahibzada-praised-at-funeral |title=Services of Sahibzada praised at funeral - Newspaper |publisher=Dawn.Com |date=2006-09-04 |accessdate=2016-03-12}}

{{Cite web |url=http://www.urduwebnews.com/tag/urdu-column/page/7/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=10 March 2016 |archive-date=28 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191128143514/http://www.urduwebnews.com/tag/urdu-column/page/7/ |url-status=dead }} Finally in 2006 Azad Kashmir elections, in an important step Mushraff granted his imprimatur and manipulated results{{cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/201154/ruling-mc-secures-20-seats-ajkpp-7-manipulation-of-results-alleged |title=Ruling MC secures 20 seats, AJKPP 7: Manipulation of results alleged - Newspaper |publisher=Dawn.Com |date=2006-07-13 |accessdate=2016-03-12}} For Sardar Mohammad Abdul Qayyum Khan's son, Sardar Attique to become Azad Kashmir's Prime minister and Zaffar{{Cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/202716/attique-zaffar-in-run-for-pm|title=Attique, Zaffar in run for PM|date=2006-07-23|website=www.dawn.com|access-date=2016-03-09}} was defeated as the prime minister candidate. Zaffar was appointed as Opposition leader of AJ&K constituent Assembly in 2006 July.

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• President Azad Jammu and Kashmir (acting), 20–29 July 1991.{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1241&dat=19980806&id=LY5TAAAAIBAJ&pg=3043,5348002&hl=en|title=Daily News - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com|access-date=2016-03-03}}
• Speaker of AJ&K Legislative Assembly, 1990–1991{{cite web |url=http://www.ajkassembly.gok.pk/former_speaker.htm |title=Azad Jammu&Kashmir Legislative Assembly |publisher=Ajkassembly.gok.pk |date= |accessdate=2016-03-10 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304050849/http://www.ajkassembly.gok.pk/former_speaker.htm |url-status=dead }}
• Senior minister{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=82cDgYceiCYC&q=senior+minister+ishaq+zaffar&pg=PA125 |title=Internal Displacement in South Asia: The Relevance of the UN's Guiding ... - Google Books |isbn=9780761933137 |accessdate=2016-03-12|last1=Banerjee |first1=Paula |last2=Chaudhury |first2=Sabyasachi Basu Ray |last3=Das |first3=Samir Kumar |last4=Adhikari |first4=Bishnu |year=2005 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/364204/kashmiris-can-never-live-with-india-ex-minister |title=Kashmiris can never live with India: ex-minister - Newspaper |publisher=Dawn.Com |date=2004-07-12 |accessdate=2016-03-12}} 1996-2001 {{Cite web|url=http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/content/95643/azad-kashmir-mulling-ban-on-forest-cutting-for-next-10-years/|title=Azad Kashmir mulling ban on forest cutting for next 10 years - India Environment Portal {{!}} News, reports, documents, blogs, data, analysis on environment & development {{!}} India, South Asia|website=www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in|access-date=2016-03-10}}
• Opposition leader July to September 2006{{cite web |url=http://www.ajkassembly.gok.pk/former_opposition_leader.htm |title=Azad Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly |publisher=Ajkassembly.gok.pk |date= |accessdate=2016-03-10 |archive-date=12 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160212224126/http://www.ajkassembly.gok.pk/former_opposition_leader.htm |url-status=dead }}
• He also headed Bhutto's Pakistan Peoples Party Azad Kashmir.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qa3fAAAAMAAJ|title=Defence Journal|last=Sehgal|first=Ikram ul-Majeed|date=2005-01-01|publisher=Ikram ul-Majeed Sehgal|language=en}} He was member of CEC of Pakistan peoples party from 1993 to 2006

Ishaq Zaffar's cousin Sahibzada Irfan Danish also remained MLA from 1990 to 1991.{{cite web |url=http://www.ajkassembly.gok.pk/former_members.htm |title=Azad Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly |publisher=Ajkassembly.gok.pk |date= |accessdate=2016-03-10 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304032424/http://www.ajkassembly.gok.pk/former_members.htm |url-status=dead }} Hafiz Muhammad Shafi cousin of Ishaq Zaffar is among the spiritual personalities of vicinity. Zaffar's sister professor Anwar Kausar was a famous educationist and poet of merit. Zaffar married twice, he had 7 sons and 6 daughters; among them some held prominent seats Nargis Zaffar{{cite web|url=http://www.pap.gov.pk/index.php/members/profile/en/19/764 |title=Punjab Assembly |publisher=Pap.gov.pk |date= |accessdate=2016-03-10}} his daughter remained member of Punjab Assembly Pakistan from 2008 to 2013.Ashfaq Zaffar {{cite web|url=http://pmajk.gov.pk/chairman.aspx |title=Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir |publisher=Pmajk.gov.pk |date=1966-07-28 |accessdate=2016-03-10}} his son is senior vice president of PPP AJK and head of prime minister implementation committee(2012-2016).

Food Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Javed Iqbal Budhanvi is his son in law.{{cite web|url=http://pakistan.onepakistan.com.pk/news/kashmir/116962-10000-youths-to-be-trained-under-bisp-waseela-e-rozgar-program-javed-iqbal.html |title=10,000 youths to be trained under BISP Waseela-e-Rozgar program: Javed Iqbal | Pakistan News |publisher=Pakistan.onepakistan.com.pk |date=2012-08-09 |accessdate=2016-03-12}}

Zaffar died of a heart attack on 2 September 2006 at Rawalpindi.{{cite web|url=http://paktribune.com/news/Attiq-Sultan-expresses-sorrow-over-Ishaq-Zafars-death-152986.html |title=Attiq, Sultan expresses sorrow over Ishaq Zafar's death |publisher=PakTribune |date=2006-09-02 |accessdate=2016-03-10}} After his death, Zaffar's eldest son Ashfaq continued the family's political career by contesting election on his vacant seat.{{cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/216726/one-killed-3-hurt-in-ajk-clash |title=One killed, 3 hurt in AJK clash - Newspaper |publisher=Dawn.Com |date=2006-10-30 |accessdate=2016-03-12}}{{cite web|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/185520/ajk-election-ppp-announce-list-of-candidates/ |title=Ajk election: PPP announce list of candidates - The Express Tribune |publisher=Tribune.com.pk |date=2011-06-10 |accessdate=2016-03-12}}

Zaffar is considered to be among the fair politician of AJK, even his political opponents such as Farooq Haider Khan,{{Cite web|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/193105/real-contest-for-ajk-premiership-between-ppp-leadership/|title=Real contest for AJK premiership between PPP leadership - The Express Tribune|website=The Express Tribune|date=20 June 2011|language=en-US|access-date=2016-03-10}} Attique Ahmed Khan and Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry{{cite web|author=administrator |url=http://www.pakistantimes.com/topics/barrister-sultan-mahmood-chaudhry/ |title=Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry |publisher=Pakistantimes.com |date=2012-03-31 |accessdate=2016-03-10}}{{cite web |url=http://www.urduwebnews.com/tag/urdu-column/page/7/ |title=urdu column | Urdu WebNews | Page 7 |publisher=Urdu WebNews |date= |accessdate=2016-03-10 |archive-date=28 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191128143514/http://www.urduwebnews.com/tag/urdu-column/page/7/ |url-status=dead }} appreciate his contributions to politics and people of AJK.

Though a member of Azad Kashmir's majority Gujjar community,{{cite web|url=http://www.gujjarnation.com/articles/famous-gujjars-of-pakistan-by-azeem-qamar-gujjar.html |title=Famous Gujjars of Pakistan - By Azeem Qamar Gujjar |publisher=Gujjarnation.com |date= |accessdate=2016-03-10}}{{cite web|url=http://dunya.com.pk/index.php/city/islamabad/2015-09-05/623558#.VuF1Z5x97IU |title=Roznama Dunya : شہر کی دنیا:-اسحاق ظفر سیاست میں رواداری کا نمونہ تھے ، عابد حسین |publisher=Dunya.com.pk |date=2012-08-28 |accessdate=2016-03-10}} Zaffar was respected for his neutrality and meritocracy and there were no allegations of corruption against him over his four-decade political career.{{citation needed|date=April 2016}}

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Category:Politicians from Azad Kashmir

Category:1944 births

Category:2006 deaths

Category:Presidents of Azad Kashmir

Category:Members of the Legislative Assembly of Azad Jammu and Kashmir

Category:Muslim Gujjars