Javid Iqbal

Javid Iqbal was a Pakistani writer, philosopher, and senior justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. He gained international recognition for his various publications regarding modern Islamic philosophy and the philosophy of law.

Early life and education

Javid Iqbal was born in Sialkot, Punjab, on 5 October 1924. He was the son of the philosopher Muhammad Iqbal and his second wife, Sardar Begum. His childhood involved significant loss because his mother died when he was 11 years old. His father passed away in 1938 while Javid was only 14.

He pursued extensive academic studies across several countries. After earning a BA (Honors) degree from Government College, Lahore, in 1944, he completed two master's degrees in 1948. These included an MA in English and an MA in Philosophy, for which he was a Gold Medallist. He later moved to the United Kingdom to further his education. He obtained a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Philosophy from the University of Cambridge in 1954. In 1956, he became a Barrister-at-Law at Lincoln's Inn, London.

His academic achievements earned him honorary doctorates. Villanova University in the United States and Seljuk University in Jordan both granted him these distinctions.

Career

Iqbal began his professional journey as an advocate in the Lahore High Court. He transitioned to the role of a judge in 1971 and eventually served as the Chief Justice of that court. His legal career continued when he was elevated to the Supreme Court of Pakistan. He also served as an elected member in the Senate of Pakistan.

His intellectual work focused on Islamic political thought and the ideology of his father. He published numerous papers in national and international journals. During the years 1960–62 and again in 1977, he acted as a delegate for Pakistan to the United Nations General Assembly. While serving during the General Zia Ul-Haq ruling period, he argued in favour of reforms regarding the Hudud laws.

He briefly entered the political arena during the 1970 General Election. He ran on a Pakistan Muslim League ticket against Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Although he participated in this election, he eventually decided to leave politics and declined an offer from Bhutto to join the Pakistan Peoples Party.

As an author, he produced many significant works. His bibliography includes Ideology of Pakistan (1959), Stray Reflections: A Note-Book of Iqbal (1961), and Legacy of Quaid-e-Azam (1968). He also wrote a three-volume biography of his father titled Zinda Rood in 1984. His autobiography, Apna Greban Chaak, was published in 2002.

Personal life

Javid Iqbal was married to Nasira Iqbal, who is a retired judge of the Lahore High Court. They had two sons named Walid Iqbal and Munib Iqbal.

He passed away on 3 October 2015 at the age of 90. He died while undergoing treatment for cancer at the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre in Lahore. His funeral was held at the Hazrat Ishaan graveyard in Baghbanpura, Lahore. Many dignitaries attended the service, including Chief Justice of Pakistan Anwar Zaheer Jamali and former President Muhammad Rafiq Tarar.

Awards and recognition

The President of Pakistan awarded him the Hilal-i-Imtiaz in 2004.