Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar

Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar (born 13 July 1970) is a human rights activist and former senator from Pakistan. He served as a member of the Senate of Pakistan from 2018 to 2022, representing the Pakistan Peoples Party. He also served as an adviser to the prime minister on human rights from 2011 to 2013. He stepped down from his senate seat in 2022, expressing his discontent with the party’s direction.^[1]

Ex Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar
Mustafa Khokhar in 2013
Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan
In office 11 March 2018 – 10 November 2022
Member of the Senate of Pakistan
In office 11 March 2018 – 10 November 2022
Chairman	Sadiq Sanjrani
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Human Rights
In office 25 June 2012 – 16 March 2013
President	Asif Ali Zardari
Prime Minister	Raja Pervaiz Ashraf
Preceded by	Himself
In office 3 May 2011 – 19 June 2012
President	Asif Ali Zardari
Prime Minister	Yusuf Raza Gillani
Succeeded by	Himself
Personal details
Born	(1970-07-13) 13 July 1970 (age 54) Islamabad, Pakistan
Other political affiliations	PPP (2013–2022) PML(Q) (2008–2013)
Parent	Haji Muhammad Nawaz Khokhar (father)
Relatives	Taji Khokhar (uncle)
Education	Cadet College Hasan Abdal

Early life and education

His late father Nawaz Khokhar was an early member of the Pakistan People's Party, even being its secretary general for Rawalpindi, before parting ways and joining Nawaz Sharif but ultimately coming back to the PPP camp later on.^[2]

Like his father Mustafa is a law graduate, having studied in the United Kingdom.^[3]

Political career

He ran for the National Assembly of Pakistan from NA-49 Islamabad-II as an independent candidate in the 2002 Pakistani general election, but was unsuccessful. He received 30,016 votes and was defeated by Nayyar Hussain Bukhari, a candidate of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP).^[4]

He ran for the National Assembly from NA-49 Islamabad-II as a candidate of the Pakistan Muslim League (Q) (PML(Q)) in the 2008 Pakistani general election, but was unsuccessful. He received 34,546 votes and was defeated by Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, a candidate of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML(N)).^[5]

He ran for the National Assembly from NA-49 Islamabad-II as a candidate of the PPP in the 2013 Pakistani general election, but was unsuccessful. He received 44,646 votes and was defeated by Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, a candidate of the PML(N).^[6]

Khokhar was elected to the Senate of Pakistan as a candidate of Pakistan Peoples Party on general seat from Sindh in 2018 Pakistani Senate election.^[7][8] He took oath as Senator on 12 March 2018.^[9]

Resignation from the Senate

On 10 November 2022, he announced to leave his position in the upper house of parliament, Senate of Pakistan Mustafa publicly and submitted his resignation as a senator.^[10]

Writings

He has written articles and op-eds, including for The Guardian.^[11]