Farooq H Naik

Chairman Senate ,Ex Federal Law minister
Born: N/A
Profession: Politician, Lawyer
Affiliation(s): Pakistan People’s Party

Farooq Hamid Naek (Farooq H. Naik) is the current Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan, since 12 March 2009.Before being appointed Chairman, Naek was the Minister of Law and Justice in the federal government since 31 March 2008, but will have to let go of the ministry because of the new appointment.

Education

He received an MA in Economics from University of Karachi and LLB from Sindh Muslim Law College.

Law career

He is a career lawyer.

Career biography

Date of Enrolment as an Advocate 31-01-1970)
Date of Enrolment as an Advocate of Supreme Court 01-09-1976
Date of enrolment as an Advocate of High Court 10-09-1976
Elected General Secretary Karachi Bar Association 1983
Elected Member Sindh Bar Council 1984 – 1989
Elected President Karachi Bar Association 1989
Re-elected Member Sindh Bar Council 1990 – 1994
Twice elected Vice Chairman Sindh Bar Council in 1986 and 1993
Elected Member Pakistan Bar Council 1997–2000
Re-elected Member Pakistan Bar Council 2000 -2005 and 2005–2010

Served as

Assistant Director

Directorate of Labour and Social Welfare Government of Sindh in 1971.
Civil Judge and First Class Magistrate from 1971 to 1975
Deputy Attorney General of Pakistan from 1994 to 1996 (Government of Benazir Bhutto )

Resigned from judicial service

He resigned from the judicial service after serving as civil judge and became an active member of the PPP in the mid-1970s.

Arrested by General Zia Ul Haq

Arrested in 1983, leading demonstration against dictatorial rule of General Zia Ul Haq. Remained in Central Prison, Karachi, for about six months along with 10 other lawyers. Declared Prisoner of Conscience by Amnesty International.

Zardari’s counsel

Although, Naek was actively associated with the PPP for three decades, he never shot into prominence and earned the limelight only when he fought the corruption and criminal cases against Benazir Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari during Pervez Musharraf’s rule in and out of Pakistan. It was during these extremely difficult years of Mr. Zardari that Naek earned his trust. Before and after becoming the President of Pakistan, Zardari always consulted him on legal matters and other issues.

Senator

He later became a Senator from Karachi, Sindh in 2003 for a period of six years. (Tenure = March 2003 to March 2009) Re-elected as member of Senate for 6 years (Tenure = March 2009 to March 2015)

Federal Law minister

He was appointed as the Federal Minister for Law and Justice as a result of Pakistani general election, 2008.

Chairman Senate

Elected as Chairman Senate (Unopposed) on 12 March, 2009. He was appointed to that position by President Asif Ali Zardari of the ruling coalition of PPP, ANP, MQM and JUI-F. As a result of his election, senior PPP leader Raza Rabbani resigned from the position of Leader of the House.