Khawaja Muhammad Sharif

Mr. Justice Khawaja Muhammad Sharif born on 9 December 1948 in Lahore. His father Khawaja Muhammad Sadiq was a cloth merchant of Anarkali Bazar, Lahore. Mr. Sharif passed M.A. in Political Science and got degree in L.L.B. He got Diplomas in Taxation Law and also in Labour Law.[1]

Khawaja Muhammad Sharif commenced practice in legal profession on 7 April 1971 from the office of Khawaja Sultan Ahmad, the most Senior Advocate of Supreme Court of Pakistan and High Court and enrolled as an Advocate of Lahore High Court, Lahore on 24 May 1973.[1]

He was elected twice as President of Lahore Bar Association in the year 1989 and 1991. During practice he wrote seven law books, six published by Mansoor Book Depot, Lahore which are Motor Accident Claims, Press and Publication Ordinance, Arbitration Act, Company Law, West Pakistan Civil Courts Ordinance and Law of Torts and the seventh book is Manual of Local Bodies Elections Laws with Rules, published by Shah Book Corporation, Lahore.[1]

He, being the President of Lahore Bar Association, represented Pakistan at the time of formation of SAARC Law Association in Sri Lanka in October, 1991. He was one of signatory to the charter of SAARC Law Association at Colombo, Sri Lanka. He also visited Malaysia, Philippines and England in his private capacity and wrote 'Safar Nama' in the shape of a book known as 'Shakh-e-Nazuk Key Aashianey'.[1]

He remained Advocate General Punjab from 31 May 1997 till 20 May 1998. He was appointed to Lahore High Court on 21 May 1998.

He is one the few judges, sacked on 3 November 2007 after the enforcement of martial law by Pervez Musharraf, who were reinstated to their positions without taking a fresh or PCO Oath on 17 March 2009.

Justice Khawaja was appointed Chief Justice of Lahore High Court on 12 April 2009 and retired on 8 December 2010 on attaining the age of superannuation.

Chief Justice Khawaja Sharif defend Mumtaz Qadri, who shot Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer on account of his blasphemic statement, confirmed Lawyer Raja Shujaur Rehman. The Divisional bench (DB) of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), composed of Chief Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rehman and Justice Riaz Ahmed Khan heard the case at 10:30am in the IHC. Qadri had filed an appeal before the IHC earlier challenging his death sentence. An anti-terrorism court (ATC) sentenced Qadri to death on two counts for the murder of Salmaan Taseer. The self-confessed killer's defence pleas, which invoked religious sentiments and argued the accused was provoked into the act, were dismissed by the court. Mumtaz Qadri was a constable in the Punjab Police and a member of its Elite Force. Justice Khawaja was appointed Chief Justice of the LHC on 12 April 2009 and retired on 8 December 2010 on attaining the age of superannuation. He was appointed to the court on 21 May 1998. The CJ remained deposed from the bench from 3 November 2007 till 17 March 2009 when he was restored.[2]

• Lahore High Court
• Punjab Bar Council