Maqbool Baqer

Justice Maqbool Baqer retired as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan in 2022. He is a former Judge of the High Court of Sindh and Chief Justice of the Province of Sindh. His judgements and dissents both reflect his progressive ideals. He was responsible for the largest distribution of compensation in Pakistan’s legal history to the victims of Karachi’s Baldia factory fire. He has also staunchly supported provincial autonomy per the constitution. His legal career has been lauded for ‘examples of the greatest courage shown by a jurist in Pakistan in the face of unprecedented opposition’, ‘commitment to the protection of fundamental rights’ and for his pro-people approach. Justice Baqer was also very vocal in questioning issues like the conduct of the court and the lack of objective criteria for judicial appointments. His pursuit of such positions meant that he often made enemies not only with those holding executive power but also within the bench. This did not deter Justice Baqer, even when it entailed risk to his very life. In 2013, he survived a vicious bomb attack which claimed the lives of twelve people and returned to work after months of rehabilitative surgery.