KARACHI: A full-court reference was held at the Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday to pay homage to Justice Zulfiqar Ahmad Khan ahead of his retirement on July 31.

The Courtroom No.1 was packed with members of the legal fraternity as the SHC Chief Justice Muhammad Junaid Ghaffar, other judges — including those from circuit benches via video link — joined the full-court reference, along with law officers and representatives of bar associations, who lauded the services of Justice Khan.

Speaking at the reference, the outgoing judge said it was always difficult to say goodbye in life, as he had dedicated over 30 years of his life to the high court building.

“Leaving this building, I feel a sense of responsibility,” he expressed, adding that he believed courts are not merely institutions, but guardians of the Constitution.

Justice Khan observed that courts were facing challenges in the delivery of justice, while litigants approached them with confidence and trust, expecting fairness. “We must ensure that no citizen is deprived of access to justice,” he remarked.

He emphasised that the pillars of the state must work together for the welfare of the people and urged the legislature to enact laws aimed at making citizens’ lives easier.

“During my tenure, I have strived to deliver impartial judgments while upholding my oath,” Justice Khan said, while extending best wishes to his fellow judges. He added that young lawyers played a crucial role in the effective delivery of justice.

At the event, SHC Chief Justice Junaid Ghaffar said that Justice Khan had always raised his voice for truth. He lauded Justice Khan for delivering notable judgments in civil, criminal and intellectual property (IP) law.

“I have many fond memories associated with him and extend my best wishes to Justice Zulfiqar Ahmad Khan,” he added.

Justice Khan, who loves to write poetry in Urdu, Saraiki and English, was appointed as an SHC judge in October 2015. He obtained his degree in Mechanical Engineering from the NED University of Engineering and Technology, earned his LLB from the University of Karachi, and completed a Postgraduate Diploma in IT and Telecom Law from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland.

In 1993, he became a member of the Sindh Bar Council and since then practised in the areas of intellectual property, internet, media, high technology, maritime and construction laws. He was also the key author of the Trade Marks Ordinance, 2001.

Justice Khan had the honour of being selected for the IV Programme on Intellectual Property Rights in 1997. In March 2001, he was also chosen to represent Sindh in the Young Lawyers’ Professional Development Programme, conducted by the UK Bar Council in collaboration with the British Council. In 2003, he was invited to The Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Center in Italy for a discussion on a development-oriented IPR agenda, and in 2010, he participated in the Asian Dialogue on Technology Transfer for Local Manufacturing Capacity of Drugs and Vaccines held in Malaysia.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2025