Emmanuel Zafar Advocate Former Member National Assembly Pakistan

He was born on 9 October 1939 in Lahore Pakistan
Advocate Ex-Member National Assembly Of Pakistan
Emmanuel Zafar outlined his electoral manifesto, which focused on:
• Advocacy for the denationalisation of Christian educational institutions
• Securing pension and gratuity rights for sanitary workers of local bodies
• Fighting to eliminate untouchability
• Campaigning for a 5% quota for Christians in government employment
• Establishing a 5% quota for Christian students in educational and technical institutions
Following his election to the National Assembly, Emmanuel Zafar rallied fellow Christian elected members National Assembly of the 1985 elections, Nasir Mahmood Khokhar, Col. (R) W. Herbert, and Capt. (R) Sana Ullah around a shared mission: to advocate for the foremost pledge in his manifesto. Together, they championed the cause of restoring Christian educational institutions, engaging in high-level dialogues that culminated in decisive meetings with President General Zia-ul-Haq and Prime Minister Muhammad Khan Junejo. Their unified efforts bore fruit in the form of official directives issued to the Punjab and Sindh governments, initiating the denationalisation process and returning these institutions to their rightful custodians.
Restoration of Christian educational institutions
On 20 December 1985, Prime Minister Junejo addressed a public gathering of Christians in Lahore, publicly declaring the restoration of Christian-managed schools.


For the remaining points in his manifesto, Emmanuel Zafar continued to press forward independently. He tabled repeated resolutions in the National Assembly and launched a direct negotiation campaign with Punjab Chief Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Minister of Local Bodies Chaudhry Pervez Elahi. Through persistent lobbying and follow-up, he eventually secured approval for pensions and gratuity rights for sanitary workers across all municipal committees and corporations in Punjab.
In parallel, he launched a province-wide grassroots campaign, reaching out to labor leaders representing various municipal unions to build a united front around this cause.
Emmanuel Zafar worked tirelessly to pursue the remaining points independently as part of his continued commitment to fulfilling his election manifesto. He actively moved multiple resolutions in the National Assembly and simultaneously initiated a sustained negotiation campaign with prominent officials, including Punjab Chief Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Minister for Local Bodies Chaudhry Pervez Elahi. Through persistent efforts and follow-ups, Zafar ultimately succeeded in convincing Chaudhry Pervez Elahi to grant pension and gratuity rights to sanitary workers across all Municipal Committees and Corporations in Punjab. Recognizing the importance of unified labor support, Zafar launched a province-wide campaign, personally engaging with labor leaders from municipal unions to foster solidarity around this historic demand.
Emmanuel Zafar, Advocate Ex-Member National Assembly, makes history by fulfilling his election manifesto in Pakistan
Following the successful approval of pension and gratuity benefits for sanitary workers, Zafar organized a landmark meeting on 1st July 1985 at Jinnah Hall (Town Hall), Lahore. The event was presided over by Mian Shuja-ur-Rehman, then Lord Mayor of Lahore, with Chaudhry Pervez Elahi serving as Chief Guest.
In his address, Zafar proudly announced that he had delivered on his promise to Punjab’s sanitary workers. Mian Shuja-ur-Rehman congratulated attendees, declaring that they were receiving pension and gratuity rights for the first time in the history of Pakistan’s Local Government System, thanks to Zafar’s relentless advocacy.
Emmanuel Zafar made history by fulfilling his election manifesto not through rhetoric, but through tireless action, coalition-building, and principled leadership. His work stands as a testament to what dedicated representation can achieve for the dignity and rights of marginalized communities in Pakistan.
Chaudhry Pervez Elahi commended
Chaudhry Pervez Elahi echoed this sentiment, announcing that effective July 1985, all sanitary workers across Punjab’s Municipal Committees, Corporations, and Metropolitan Corporations would be entitled to pension and gratuity. He praised Zafar’s unwavering determination, recounting how Zafar had persistently pursued him—at his home, office, assembly chambers, and public meetings until the demand was accepted. Elahi commended Zafar’s sincerity, stating that electing him had been a wise decision.
However, the initial notification issued by the Local Government & Rural Development Department of Punjab, dated 13th August 1985 (Letter No. DEV-3-05-83 Lahore. Mar), covered only the Lahore Municipal Corporation. Copies of this decision were circulated to: Director, Local Government & Rural Development, Lahore Division
Mayor, Lahore Municipal Corporation
1. Director, Local Fund Audit, Lahore
2. PS to Minister, LG&RDD, Lahore
3. PA to Deputy Secretary (Admin), LG&RDD, Lahore
Determined to see full implementation, Zafar swiftly engaged with Federal Minister Chaudhry Anwar Aziz, Provincial Minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, and Secretary Imtiaz Masroor to extend the decision to all municipal bodies in Punjab. With support from the Secretary of LG&RDD, Emmanuel Zafar’s name was formally recognized, and either through personal visits or official letters (D.O. Letters), the decision was systematically implemented across every Town Committee, Municipal Committee, and Corporation in Punjab.Emmanuel Zafar and the political mobilization of religious minorities in Pakistan
Political Mobilisation of the Christian Community.Emmanuel Zafar played an instrumental role in politically uniting Pakistan’s Christian community. He travelled extensively across the country, motivating various Christian splinter groups to come together under one platform. His efforts ultimately led to the formation of the Pakistan Masihi League, a representative Christian political party.

Founding and leadership of political movements:
Remaining true to his principles, Zafar later separated from the Pakistan Masihi League and co-founded the Azad Masihi League with Joshua Fazal-ud-Din. He currently leads the Masihi Awami Party and has been at the forefront of nearly all demonstrations and protest rallies organized by the Christian community.

Parliamentary Achievements:
In 1985, Emmanuel Zafar Advocate, High Courts, was elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan, marking a historic milestone for Christian representation. During his tenure, he:
Established 12 schools for Christian children
Constructed 200 community centres.
Delivered civic amenities to underdeveloped rural areas.

Emmanuel Zafar Road, Mariamabad:
One of his most significant achievements was the construction of a three-mile access road from Sargodha Road to the National Marian Holy Mary Pilgrimage Shrine in Mariamabad, District Sheikhupura. This road is now internationally recognized as Emmanuel Zafar Road.


Pension and Gratuity Reform
On 7 July 1985, under his leadership and advocacy, the Punjab Government approved the long-standing demand for pension and gratuity for Local Government employees—an unprecedented development in Pakistan’s history. The announcement was made by Chaudhry Pervaiz (then Minister of Local Bodies, now Chief Minister of Punjab) at a public meeting held in Lahore’s Town Hall, presided over by Emmanuel Zafar.
Legal Publications
Emmanuel Zafar is a distinguished legal author with around 30 authoritative law books, widely used by lawyers and students. His works are recommended for LLB and LLM programs in Punjab University and law colleges nationwide.
General Reference Books
1. Code of Civil Procedure (5 volumes)
2. Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan 1973 (2 volumes)
3. Civil Ready Reference (3 volumes)
4. Law Relating to Christian Marriages in Pakistan
5. Law Relating to Christian Divorce in Pakistan
6. Law of Christian Inheritance & Succession
7. Law Relating to Suppression of Terrorism
8. Law & Practice of Islamic Hudood
9. Law of Bail
10. Law of Writs
11. Law of Civil Services in Pakistan
12. Art of Cross-Examination
13. Ethical Criminal Practice
14. Art of a Lawyer
15. Law of Fraud
16. Law on Narcotic Substances Control
17. Contempt of Court, Parliament, and Public Servants

Student Textbooks
18. General Principles of Criminal Law
19. General Principles of the Contract Act
20. Legal Ethics
21. Constitution of the United States of America
22. Administrative Law
Legal Dictionaries
23. Concise Medico-Legal Dictionary
24. Dictionary of Legal Maxims, Foreign Phrases, and Judicial Terms

Journalistic Contributions
He also served the Christian minority community through journalism:
• Monthly Humsookhan (Urdu)
• Monthly The Minorities View (English)

Regional Legal Impact: His comparative legal texts, such as Law Relating to Christian Marriages in Pakistan, India & Bangladesh, have been referenced in South Asian legal circles dealing with minority rights and family law.
Diaspora Engagement: Pakistani Christian communities abroad, particularly in the UK, Canada, and the U.S., have used his writings to advocate for policy changes and raise awareness about minority issues back home.
Global Human Rights Discourse: His emphasis on constitutionalism and equal citizenship resonates with international human rights frameworks, making his work relevant to NGOs and legal reformers beyond Pakistan.
A Royal Tribute: Queen Elizabeth Recognises Emmanuel Zafar’s Chronicle of Christian Heritage. In 2007, Queen Elizabeth appreciated Emmanuel Zafar, the author of A Concise History of Pakistani Christians. She honoured him with the title of Esquire. In British tradition, “Esquire” is more of a courtesy title rather than an official honour; it’s often used to denote a gentleman or lawyer, especially in official writing.