Ijaz Hussain Batalve

Ijaz Hussain Batalvi Ijaz Hussain Batalve
Born	Ijaz Hussain (1923-09-07)7 September 1923 Batala, British India
Died	March 7, 2004 Lahore, Pakistan
Citizenship	British Empire (until 1947) Dominion of Pakistan (from 1947)
Alma mater	Government College University, Lincoln's Inn
Occupation	Barrister
Years active	1949-2003
Known for	Constitutional Barrister, Storyteller, Law Professor, Ijaz-e-Biaan
Spouse	Falahat Begum
Children	2

Entrance from Lincoln's Inn Fields

Ijaz Hussain Batalvi (اعجاز حسین بتالوی) a Lincolns Barrister from Pakistan, was born on 7 September 1923, in Batala, India, Sub-Continent before partitioned and Pakistan after independence from British. Later his family chosen to migrate to Pakistan and settled in Lahore. He completed his graduation from Government College University in 1943,Lahore and then went to London for higher studies in the subject of Law and admitted in Lincoln's Inn to become a Barrister in 1949 and started law practice in Law while joining the Legendary Barrister Mr. Denis Nowell Pritt, in London. After spending a long time in London, he decided to comeback to Pakistan and joined the Law Chamber of Manzur Qadir as Associate where he met Khushwant Singh Barrister M. Anwar and M.A. Rahman. He also joined University Law College as Law Professor and remained attached with law teaching since his last breath on March 7, 2004, in Lahore due to prostate cancer at age of 81. In his student life he got the opportunity to work as news Analyst in All India Radio, then Radio Pakistan and in London BBC Radio.

Biography

Early life and education

GCU's Iconic tower

Batalvi was the youngest in the family having six elder brothers and three sisters. He completed his early education in Batala near Amritsar then got admission in Government College University and completed his graduation and Master in English. He attached with All India Radio and news caster to bear his educational expenses. He inspired by Barrister Muhammad Ali Jinnah Quaid-e-Azam and decided to become Barrister and moved to London for legal education where he admitted in Lincoln's Inn and completed his Bar at Law 1949. During his law studies he joined BBC Radio. He exercised his option to stay in London and joined the Law Chamber Barrister Mr. Denis Nowell Pritt, London, who later come to Pakistan to argue Maulvi Tamizuddin Khan case. Batalvi spent a busy life in London, one day his Chamber fellow Solicitor deputed him a case of cabbage which he understood as a case of vegetable, but it was a case of cabbage; clothe stolen by Tailor master that moments he realized that he should go back to his native country so he returned to Lahore in 1954. In Lahore, it was an era of Manzur Qadir a legend, who later become Foreign Minister and Chief Justice of Pakistan. He became a part of Manzor Qadir Law Chamber where his other Associates were Khushwant Singh, Barrister M. Anwar, M.A. Rahman, Akhtar Shabbir. One of his colleagues referred him to University Law College for Law Teaching and remained a Law Professor rather a popular law mentor in the Law College, his students were Naeem Bokhari Aftab Gul, Asma Jahangir, Hina Jilani, Asif Saeed Khosa, M. A. Zafar, Muhammad Nawaz Bhatti Aitezaz Ahsan. and colleague were S.M. Zafar, Raja Anwar, Khawaja Sultan, Aftab Farrukh, Khawaja Haris, Ashtar Ausaf Ali Abid Hassan Minto, Salman Akram Raja, a long list may be compiled etc.

Professional Life

Lahore High Court

Batalvi become very popular Barrister when he conducted Allama Mashriqi Case (Inayatullah Khan Mashriqi), Yousaf Renate Case, General Yahya Ahya Martlal Law Case (Asma Jillani), Qadlani's Case, Trlal of Mr. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Ex-Prime Minister of Pakistan, Lahore Race Club, Baning of Alcohol for Muslins Case, Qisas and Diyat Ordinance Case, [[Shujaat Hussain ]] Case, Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad Case, Nomination Papers for The President of Pakistan President Muhammad Rafiq Tarar, Plane Hijacking Case of Nawaz Sharif. All these cases were high profile, famous and leading cases of Pakistan's Political arena and judicial history; all are reported in Law Journals PLD SCMR etc. and some cases like Yousaf Renate Case is being taught in Lincoln's Inn. He offered so many times to become Ambassador to UK, Senator, Law Minister, Judge of Lahore High Court but every time he smilingly refuses by saying that he is Barrister and wants to remain Barrister till his last, so he fulfilled his own quotation. He appeared in Zulfikar Ali Bhutto then Prime Minister of Pakistan his class fellow in Lincoln Inn and lastly in Plane Hijacking of Nawaz Sharif Prime Minister of Pakistan and succeeded to safe him from any harsh execution resultantly Nawaz Sharif family went to Saudi Arabia for Exile.

Law Professor

Batalvi was very much clear in his mind that knowledge should not be retained, it should be spread allover and payback to younger generations, so he passionately started law teaching in University Law College then it was one and only law College for whole of the Punjab rather in Pakistan and getting admission in law college was an honor for students. University Law College produced thousands of shining personalities of Pakistan including Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and others legendary personalities. Batalvi remained attached this Law College (mother of all law Colleges)for more than fifty years. Wherever you go to either New York or Delhi or London you will easily found so many Batalvi's students, Fans who were serving all over the World and Pakistan will cherish to listen the name of their mentor Ijaz Hussain Batalvi. He taught, law of Tort, Constitution, law of Contract etc.

Always Batalvi Counsel

Whenever any constitutional turmoil in Pakistan through army establishment or Political crises and matter goes to the Superior Court then it will a case of Mr.Batalvi as a Constitutional expertise or a veteran barrister either it was Martial law of General Yahya Khan then Batalvi filed a Constitutional petition in the Lahore High Court Asma Jillani (Asma Jahangir) and the Court declared the marshal law null and void and an abuse of the constitution. When General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq imposed Martial law in Pakistan 5 July 1977 and Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto taken into custody and charge an abetment of murder case then we saw Mr. Batalvi as a Prosecutor and then we saw Pervez Musharraf overturned Nawaz Sharif government and arrested Nawaz Sharif for Plane Hyjacking case then we see again Batalvi as a defender of Nawaz Sharif. In both cases Batalvi succeeded as General Zial ul Haq executed Bhutto and General Mushraf try to execute Nawaz Sharif and Batalvi succeeded to safe him from any brutal execution. Similarly when Acting Chief election Commissioner rejected Muhammad Rafiq Tarar nomination paper of President of Pakistan there was no other person except Mr. Batalvi to safe him from legal or political manipulation. Mr. Batalvi also safe Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad, Shujaat Hussain, Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi, Parvez Elahi Tehmina Daultana, Inayatullah Khan Mashriqi Case, Lahore Race Club, Qisas and Diyat Ordinance Case, Yousaf Renate Case, Banning of Alcohol for Muslins Case, these are few leading cases and PDL, SCMR and other Law Journals are full different cases in which some constitutional interpretations are required.

Storyteller

Barrister Batalvi was too a literary personality, He was called himself a weekend writer as he devoted much of his time to law practice but in the evening, he was busy in literary activities where he was known as Storyteller in Pak Tea House or in Shezan (a restaurant on the Mall road, where literary person gather) where his picture is decorated as of its patron. In the morning, he was busy in delivery law lecture in Law College then he was found busy in Lahore High Court and Supreme Court of Pakistan to argue his cases and in the evening, he was enjoying the center place of literary world. He presented so many literary and academic papers at various international forums, Seminars and conferences. Enjoy serving as Vice President of FILLM (International Federation of Modern Languages and Literatures) during the years 1969–1975. He mange to organize an International Conference of the FILLM at Islamabad and Lahore in 1969. He remained an active member of the famous Halqa-e Arbab-e Zauq Lahore where he got the opportunity to read his various literary works including short stories and poetry. He also wrote various book reviews and critiques for literary works of other authors. Some of these works printed in literary publications over the years.

Ijaz-e-Biaan

Batalvi spent whole of his life in Law College, Lahore High Court, Supreme Court of Pakistan and in literary activities, wrote so many fiction stories, Poems, essays, articles, reviews, critics, papers, introductions and many more writing contents which were published in so many books, journals, publications, newspapers but he never ever wrote any book in his name and when somebody ask this question to Batalvi then he smiled and reply that his is a narrator...storyteller and weekend writer nor have any passion to write any book or biography etc. however after his death his elder son Sulman Batalvi with the help of Batalvi's buddies Intizar Hussain, Amjad Islam Amjad compiled his literary works called Ijaz-e-Biaan (some of his selected pieces of work) which were sold hugely by Sang-e-Meel Publications and most favorite books of Pakistan literary circle.

Death

Batalvi was very active in his schedule life, he was fond of Yoga exercise and actively do walk in (Jilani Park) Racecourse Park, Lahore where he found so many his fans. He was very conscious in his eating habit and style but at the age of 81, suddenly a prostate cancer diagnosis and after in few month treatments he died on 7 March 2004. After his sad departure legal fraternity, law students and literary circle of Pakistan become orphan and gloomed... Rich tribute ceremonies and references were organized in the Lahore High Court and Supreme Court of Pakistan Lahore High Court Bar Association, Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan, Pak Tea House and other literary forum.