Farhatullah Babar is a prominent Pakistani politician, civil engineer by training and a strong advocate for human rights, transparency, and democratic values. Here's a detailed summary of his background and contributions:
Education & Early Career
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Civil engineer: Earned a B.Eng. from the University of Peshawar (1965) and an M.Eng. in 1985 (en.wikipedia.org).
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Professional work: Served in roles such as president of the Pakistan Engineering Council (1983–1994) and worked with Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission; managed projects in Saudi Arabia (en.wikipedia.org).
Media & Journalism
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Journalist & editor: Joined the Frontier Post as editor; known for fearless investigative reporting, even exposing corruption among his own relatives .
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Political victimization: Satirized by the Zia regime, he left journalism and transitioned decisively into politics (herald.dawn.com).
Political Career
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Early roles: Served as spokesperson and speechwriter for Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and, from 2008–13, for President Asif Ali Zardari; elected to the Senate (2003–06) representing PPP (en.wikipedia.org).
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PPP leadership: Held positions including Secretary General of PPP and President of its Human Rights Cell; in 2023, appointed President of PPP Human Rights Committee (islamabadliteraturefestival.com).
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Legislative roles: Chaired Senate committees on Right to Information and medico-governance issues like the South Punjab province (islamabadliteraturefestival.com).
Human Rights & Governance Advocacy
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Death penalty reform: In 2017, emphasized that “over 80% of those hanged are ordinary criminals, not terrorists,” urging national reflection (pgaction.org).
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Custodial atrocities: Called for NCHR’s role in investigating custodial deaths and enforce anti-torture laws (dawn.com).
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Digital rights: In 2023, highlighted the digital divide affecting marginalized groups and warned against digital manipulation in elections under PECA (thenews.com.pk).
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Transgender rights: Challenged federal Shariat Court's verdict against the Transgender Protection Act 2018, calling the move discriminatory (thenews.com.pk).
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Transparency advocate: Pressed for public disclosure of perks and privileges of defense officers under the RTI Act (pakistantoday.com.pk).
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Education funding scrutiny: In 2025, challenged the allocation of £190 million to build a university in Islamabad, urging broader educational investment (thenews.com.pk).
Key Characteristics & Legacy
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Principled and independent: Noted for speaking truth to power—even rebuking his own party and the judiciary’s politicization (tribune.com.pk).
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Steadfast advocate: Continuously champions human rights, transparency, and fair governance.
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Recognition: Recipient of Hilal‑i‑Imtiaz award and serves on bodies like HRCP and university senates (islamabadliteraturefestival.com).
Recent Developments
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Resigned as PPP Secretary General in November 2023 but continues significant leadership in its human rights cell (dunyanews.tv).
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Actively involved in contemporary discourses on digital justice, election fairness, custodial accountability, and judicial activism.
In essence, Farhatullah Babar’s journey reflects a unique fusion of engineering, journalism, and political acumen—rooted in integrity and driven by a lifelong dedication to justice, democracy, and human dignity.
Let me know if you'd like more details on any specific issue—like his speeches, committee work, or recent legal challenges!
