Syed Sajjad Bokhari Explained

Office:Member of Senate of Pakistan
Parliamentarygroup:Pakistan Peoples Party – Parliamentarian
Termstart:12 March 2003
Termend:11 March 2006
Birth Name:Syed Sajjad Hussain Bokhari
Birth Date:8 February 1955
Honorific Prefix:Senator
Spouse:Yasmeen Sajjad (m.1987)
Nationality:Pakistani
Children:4
Birth Place:Bhalwal, Sargodha, Pakistan
Education:B.A. Political Science (Gold Medalist)
M.A. French: Language & Literature
M.A. History
M.A. Political Science

Syed Sajjad Hussain Bokhari is a Pakistani politician, author and businessman.

A senior party official and Senator affiliated with Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP),[1] he was a close aide of Benazir Bhutto, former Prime Minister of Pakistan, and served in various capacities under her leadership.

Early life and education

Bokhari was born on February 8, 1955, in Bhalwal, District Sargodha, Punjab to a Syed family. After receiving his early education in his hometown, Bokhari moved to Rawalpindi, where he completed both his F.Sc (pre-medical) and B.A. in Political Science from Government Gordon College. He further holds three Masters: M.A. French, Language and Literature, from National University of Modern Languages (previously known as NIML and affiliated with Quaid-e-Azam University) in Islamabad, M.A. Political Science and M.A. History from University of Punjab in Lahore.

Career

In 1992, Benazir Bhutto appointed Bokhari as the chief executive, editor-in-chief and printer/publisher of Daily Musawat (a newspaper founded by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and closely affiliated with Pakistan Peoples Party).[2] He was tasked with reviving the newspaper that had been banned during the martial law regime of Zia-ul-Haq[3] and held that position until 2010,[4] [5] [6] when it was handed over to Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.[7]

He was also the President of International Affairs (PPP) from 1992 till 2007, during which PPP transitioned from an observer party to a full member party at Socialist International – a global organization comprising 135 social democratic, socialist and labour parties seeking to establish democratic socialism.[8] [9] In 2003, Bokhari was elected as a Member of the Senate of Pakistan from Punjab.[10] [11] In 2006, he was appointed as the Chief Election Commissioner of the Party for its first intra-party polls,[12] [13] and as Deputy Secretary Information in the Central Executive Committee (CEC) of PPP (2006 - 2010).[14] [15]

Bokhari has authored 21 books in the Urdu, English and French languages, contributing to the fields of history, politics and poetry. His notable works include national bestsellers such as Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Wiladat se Shahadat tak,[16] [17] The Leader of Today,[18] Pakistan kai 17 Wuzar-e-Azam[19] and Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed kai Akhri 72 Din,[20] [21] amongst others. He has also translated Benazir Bhutto's autobiography, Daughter of the East, to Urdu under the title Mashrik ki Beti. [22] Bokhari is distinguished as the first Pakistani to author a book in French titled La Premiere Lueur, a collection of 29 short poems published in 1982, shortly after Bokhari completed his M.A. in French. The book was launched by the then Federal Minister for Education in Pakistan, Mr. Mohammad Ali Khan, as reported in Bokhari's autobiography, Bhalvāl se Aivān-i Bālā tak.[23]

Presently, Bokhari runs Daily Abtak,[24] an independent Urdu daily newspaper. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS)[25] and a longstanding member of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE).[26] He is also the Chairman of Pak Media Foundation, a not-for-profit institution for the welfare of journalists.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Senate of Pakistan. 2020-09-20. www.senate.gov.pk.
  2. Williams. J. Melville. 1978-09-01. The press in Pakistan. Index on Censorship. 7. 5. 54–56. 10.1080/03064227808532838. 143609301. 0306-4220. free.
  3. Web site: Aziz. Shaikh. 2015-05-03. A leaf from history: Four journalists flogged, two newspapers shut. 2020-09-21. DAWN.COM. en.
  4. Web site: APNS slates violence against media men. 2020-09-20. www.thenews.com.pk. en.
  5. Web site: APNS office-bearers elected. 2020-09-20. www.thenews.com.pk. en.
  6. Web site: 2008-05-16. 'N' rejects Taseer as Punjab Governor. 2020-09-20. The Nation. en.
  7. Web site: All Pakistan Newspapers Society Home. 2020-09-20. www.apns.com.pk.
  8. Web site: Socialist International - Progressive politics For a fairer world. 2020-09-20. Socialist International. en.
  9. Web site: Members. 2020-09-20. Socialist International. en.
  10. Web site: 2003-03-04. EC notifies names of successful senators. 2020-09-20. DAWN.COM. en.
  11. Web site: 2003-02-09. Candidates for Senate. 2020-09-20. DAWN.COM. en.
  12. Web site: 2006-04-17. PPP sets up poll supervisory body. 2020-09-20. DAWN.COM. en.
  13. Web site: PPP yet to hold party elections in three provinces. 2020-09-20. www.thenews.com.pk. en.
  14. Web site: Special Report, NOS, The News International. 2020-09-20. jang.com.pk.
  15. Web site: briefs.... 2020-09-20. www.thenews.com.pk. en.
  16. Web site: Newspaper. the. 2011-01-17. PPP flag and November stir. 2020-09-20. DAWN.COM. en.
  17. Web site: ذوالفقارعلی بھٹو: ولادت سے شہادت تک Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto: Wiladat Say Shahadat Tak. 2020-09-20. URDU BOOK. en.
  18. Book: Bokhari, Sajjad. Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, the leader of today. 1993. Fiction House. Lahore.,
  19. Web site: Pakistan K 17 Wuzara e Azam. 2020-09-20. Fiction House. en-US.
  20. Web site: Benazir Bhutto Shaheed k Akhir 72 Din. 2020-09-20. Fiction House. en-US.
  21. Book: Bokhari, Sajjad. Muḥtarmah Benaẓīr Bhuṭṭo shahīd kī zindagī ke āk̲h̲arī 72 din. 2011. Jumhūrī Pablīkeshanz. Lahore.
  22. Web site: Urdu e-Book: Mashriq Ki Beti; Pure. 2020-09-20. apnaorg.com.
  23. Book: Bokhari, Sajjad. Bhalvāl se Aivān-i Bālā tak. 2012. Abtak Pablīkeshanz. Lāhaur.
  24. Web site:

    Daily ABTAK Lhr::::

    . 2020-09-20. www.abtak.com.pk.
  25. Web site: All Pakistan Newspapers Society Home. 2020-09-20. www.apns.com.pk.
  26. Web site: Closure of any TV channel, paper not in national interest: CPNE Pakistan Today. 2020-09-20. www.pakistantoday.com.pk.