Former president Rafiq Tarar passes away

Islamabad: Former President of Pakistan Muhammad Rafiq Tarar has passed away on Monday (today) following a prolonged illness, GNN reported. He was 93.

According to details, Rafiq Tarar had been suffering from various health issues.

His funeral prayers will be offered in his native area of Ghakhar after Esha prayers at 8:30pm in Old Eid Gah, Pir Kot Road.

Soon after the news of his sad demise wishes and prayers started to pour in.  

In a tweet, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif extended his condolences with the grieving family—describing Tarar as a kind and compassionate man.  

 “May Allah elevate his ranks,” he added.

سابق صدر مملکت، ہمارے شفیق اور مہربان بزرگ، زیرک قانون دان، انصاف پسند جج اور نہایت اچھے انسان محترم رفیق تارڑ بھی رخصت ہوگئے۔ اللہ تعالی ان کے درجات بلند فرمائے۔ ہمارے لئے وہ ایک قابل احترام بزرگ کا درجہ رکھتے تھے جنہوں نے ہر مرحلے پر نہ صرف ہماری مخلصانہ راہنمائی فرمائی بلکہ۔۔

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) March 7, 2022

Turning to Twitter, his grandson and PML-N leader Attaullah Tarar stated,” My grandfather Muhammad Rafiq Tarar passed away”.

He further added, “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un (To God we belong and to him we return)”.

میرے دادا جان محمد رفیق تارڑ رضائے الٰہی سے انتقال کر گئے ہیں۔

انا للہ وانا اليہ راجعون

— Attaullah Tarar (@TararAttaullah) March 7, 2022

Born in 1929, Mr Tarar graduated from Punjab University’s Law College in 1951 and immediately joined the legal profession.

He passed competitive exam and pursued a career as a jurist in 1966.   

In 1974, he was appointed as a judge of the Lahore High Court (LHC), where he served for 17 years.

Soon after his retirement in 1994, Tarar entered politics—starting as a legal advisor to former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.   

He was elected as a Senator on the PML-N ticket in March 1997, but resigned from the upper house in December.

Tarar assumed office in January 1998 and remained president for two and a half years when the then ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf, who had ousted Nawaz Sharif’s government in October 1999, removed Mr Tarar through the Legal Framework Order.

During his tenure, the powers of the president were gradually reduced and finally, through the 13th Amendment, the powers of the president were completely reduced in the spirit of the Constitution.