Syed Sajjad Bokhari

Syed Sajjad Hussain Bokhari (Urdu: سید سجاد حسین بخاری) is a Pakistani politician, author and businessman.

Senator Syed Sajjad Bokhari
Member of Senate of Pakistan
In office 12 March 2003 – 11 March 2006
Parliamentary group	Pakistan Peoples Party - Parliamentarian
Personal details
Born	Syed Sajjad Hussain Bokhari (1955-02-08) 8 February 1955 (age 69) Bhalwal, Sargodha, Pakistan
Spouse	Yasmeen Sajjad (m.1987)
Children	4
Education	B.A. Political Science (Gold Medalist) M.A. French: Language & Literature M.A. History M.A. Political Science
Alma mater	Government Gordon College National University of Modern Languages University of Punjab
Occupation	Politician, author, 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.

References

1. "Senate of Pakistan". www.senate.gov.pk. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
2. Williams, J. Melville (1 September 1978). "The press in Pakistan". Index on Censorship. 7 (5): 54–56. doi:10.1080/03064227808532838. ISSN 0306-4220. S2CID 143609301.
3. Aziz, Shaikh (3 May 2015). "A leaf from history: Four journalists flogged, two newspapers shut". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
4. "APNS slates violence against media men". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
5. "APNS office-bearers elected". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
6. "'N' rejects Taseer as Punjab Governor". The Nation. 16 May 2008. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
7. "All Pakistan Newspapers Society | Home". www.apns.com.pk. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
8. "Socialist International - Progressive politics For a fairer world". Socialist International. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
9. "Members". Socialist International. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
10. "EC notifies names of successful senators". DAWN.COM. 4 March 2003. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
11. "Candidates for Senate". DAWN.COM. 9 February 2003. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
12. "PPP sets up poll supervisory body". DAWN.COM. 17 April 2006. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
13. "PPP yet to hold party elections in three provinces". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
14. "Special Report, NOS, The News International". jang.com.pk. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
15. "briefs..." www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
16. Newspaper, the (17 January 2011). "PPP flag and November stir". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
17. "ذوالفقارعلی بھٹو: ولادت سے شہادت تک Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto: Wiladat Say Shahadat Tak". URDU BOOK. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
18. Bokhari, Sajjad (1993). Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, the leader of today. Lahore: Fiction House.,
19. "Pakistan K 17 Wuzara e Azam". Fiction House. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
20. "Benazir Bhutto Shaheed k Akhir 72 Din". Fiction House. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
21. Bokhari, Sajjad (2011). Muḥtarmah Benaẓīr Bhuṭṭo shahīd kī zindagī ke āk̲h̲arī 72 din. Lahore: Jumhūrī Pablīkeshanz.
22. "Urdu e-Book: Mashriq Ki Beti; Pure". apnaorg.com. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
23. Bokhari, Sajjad (2012). Bhalvāl se Aivān-i Bālā tak. Lāhaur: Abtak Pablīkeshanz.
24. ":::Daily ABTAK Lhr::::". www.abtak.com.pk. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
25. "All Pakistan Newspapers Society | Home". www.apns.com.pk. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
26. "Closure of any TV channel, paper not in national interest: CPNE | Pakistan Today". www.pakistantoday.com.pk. Retrieved 20 September 2020.