Current Members

The National Academic Council (NAC) of IPS is a supervisoryconsultative body comprising renowned academicians,intellectuals and experts in different fields and philosophical areasgathered on one platform from all over Pakistan.

Consisting of around 30 members at a time for a tenure of threeyears, the NAC is constituted in such a way that about one-third ofthe members are retired every two to three years and replaced withthe new ones for the similar forthcoming period, hence ensuringcontinuity as well as induction of new thoughts and ideas to thecouncil.

The primary role of NAC is to oversee all the research work being carried out at the Institute. The inputs of the council’s distinguished members aid the Institute’s work in form of their recommendations, academic contributions, feedback, and active participation in IPS’ academic events and programs throughout the year.

Adnan Sarwar

Dr. Adnan SarwarDr. Adnan Sarwar is the head Of department, International Relations, National University of Modern Languages (NUML), Islamabad. Having his doctoral thesis on The Geneva Accord on Afghanistan and Pakistan’s Perspective foreign policy of Pakistan, regional and international politics and regional security issues have been his special areas of interest. He has been contributing extensively on these topics through lectures and research articles.

Ahmer Bilal Soofi

Ahmer Bilal SufiAhmer Bilal Soofi is a senior lawyer and Pakistan’s former federal law minister. He did his graduation from Government College, Lahore and his LLM from the University of Cambridge in 1988. He was enrolled as an Advocate of High Court in 1988 and as an Advocate of Supreme Court in 2000. Soofi has appeared in several cases before the Supreme Court of Pakistan having national importance and has frequently advised Government of Pakistan on several important legal issues. He is also the founding President of Research Society of International Law.  He was elected as a Member Advisory Council of United Nations Human Rights Council for a period of three years in March 2011. Recently, he was also elected as the president of WWF-Pakistan. He has done extensive work for improving legislation in Pakistan relating to human rights and international humanitarian law.

Amanullah Khan

Mr. Amanullah KhanMr. Amanullah Khan is a seasoned businessman and business analyst. He is ex-President of Rawalpindi Chambers of Commerce and Industries and has held various executive and administrative positions in famous business groups and companies. He has represented Pakistan in international trade fairs and commercial visits.

Anis Ahmed

Anis AhmadProfessor Dr. Anis Ahmed is a social scientist of international repute. He carries a Ph.D. from the Temple University, Pennsylvania, USA. He has held numerous academic leadership positions both nationally and internationally. Currently he is acting as vice chancellor of Riphah International University Islamabad and has served previously as Vice President of International Islamic University, Islamabad and Dean of Faculty of Human Sciences, International Islamic University, Malaysia. Dr. Anis is editor-in-chief of IPS quarterly Urdu journal Maghrib aur Islam (West and Islam). He has authored/edited a number of books and articles and writes on contemporary social, political and cultural issues.

Khalid Iqbal

Khalid IqbalAir Commodore (Retd) Khalid Iqbal is a former Assistant Chief of Air Staff of Pakistan Air Force. During his air force stint he commanded two squadrons, a wing and a base. He was member of directing staff at PAF Air War College, Karachi; an instructor and squadron commander at Combat Commanders’ School. He severed as Director Policy, Senior Staff Officer, Deputy Chief Inspector of the PAF and member of National Air Defence Committee. He participated in operational assignments during Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, and has travelled widely in FATA/PATA areas. He has also served in UAE Air Force and Air Defence as a squadron commander for two years. He is a fellow of PAF Air War College and visiting faculty of Pakistan Naval War College, PAF Air War College and School of Army Air Defence.

M. Riyazul Haque

M. Rafique AhmadM. Riyazul Haque is a former civil servant who is credited with over 45 years of experience in Pakistan public service and international financial institutions (IFI). His fields of experience include finance, development, policy, administration, law, and good governance. He remained joint secretary in the Economic Affairs Division, handling ADB, USAID, and World Bank desks; member, National Tariff Commission, joint secretary, in the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, and in the President’s Secretariat; headed five departments as secretary, including finance, services and general administration [S&GAD], industries, information, and local government in Balochistan.

Mirza Hamid Hasan

Mirza Hamid Hasan is a distinguished former civil servant. He has served as federal secretary in the ministry of water and power, statistics division, ministry of finance; as additional secretary, establishment division, and cabinet secretariat; and, as joint secretary, ministry of interior, Economic Affairs Division (EAD), ministry of finance and economic affairs; and as member, CDA. Hassan also possesses a rich experience working with international organizations such as World Bank, Asian development Bank and UNICEF.

Muneeb-ur-Rehman

Mufti Muneeb-ur-RehmanProfessor Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman is the current chairman of Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, Pakistan and is considered among the top religious scholars of the country, He holds Master’s degree in Islamic Studies from Karachi University and in Islamic theology and jurisprudence from Darul Uloom Amjadia. He has held numerous key positions in his professional life including President Tanzeem-ul-Madaris and President Darul-Uloom Naeemia, Karachi. He is also a teaching Professor in Jinnah University for Women, Karachi and serves as a member board of studies, Federal Government Urdu University and Board of Intermediate Education, Karachi. He possesses over 30 years of experience in teaching Tafseer, Hadith, Fiqah, Arabic Literature and other Islamic subjects to graduate and post graduate  students in different institutions. As an author, he has a number of books to his credit including Tafheem -ul-Masail, Qanoon-e-Shariat, Usool-e-Fiqah Islam, and many others.

Qibla Ayaz

drqiblaayazDr. Qibla Ayaz is the Dean of Faculty of Islamic and Oriental Studies, University of Peshawar. He has held several top academic positions in the past as well, including Acting Vice Chancellor, University of Peshawar, Dean, Faculty of Islamic Studies & Arabic, University of Peshawar, Director, Institute of Islamic and Arabic Studies, University of Peshawar, Director, ShaykhZayed Islamic Centre, University of Peshawar and Chairman, Department of Seerat Studies/Prophetology/Prophet Studies, University of Peshawar. He is also a member of various statutory bodies, committees and academic societies.A doctorate from the Edinburgh University, U.K, his major achievements include establishment of Department of Seerat Studies/Prophetology/Prophet Studies at the University of Peshawar, Pakistan Council of World Religions, Al-Farabi Council for Citizen Diplomacy and Academic for Knowledge and Review (AFKAR). He is also a recipient of the US Gold Star Alumni (2011) and Presidential Award (MA Islamic Studies, 1975).To date, Dr. Qibla Ayaz has participated in number of national and international conferences and seminars. He also frequently delivers lectures and conducts training workshops majorly on the subjects of Islam and education. His other areas of interest include religious diversity, conflict resolution and religion, peace and dialogue, interfaith dialogue and citizen diplomacy. He is also an author of numerous books and articles.

Saadia Abbasi

Ms. Saadia AbbasiMs. Saadia Abbasi is Barrister at Law and Member Senate of Pakistan. Having received her education from world renowned educational institutions of United States and United Kingdom in Law and Political Science, she is a fervent advocate of all-round political, economic and social reform. She is member of Policy Planning Wing of Government of Pakistan and frequently expresses her conviction and vision on intellectual forums and press with the diversity and depth of her knowledge.

Shamshad Ahmad Khan

Shamshad Ahmad KhanMr. Shamshad Ahmad Khan is former ambassador and foreign secretary of Pakistan. He carries a distinguished public service experience in bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, regional cooperation, conflict resolution, preventive diplomacy and public affairs. He has held various diplomatic assignments in Pakistan Missions in Tehran, Dakar, Paris, Washington and New York. He served as ambassador of Pakistan to South Korea and Iran and held responsibilities as Secretary General of Economic Cooperation Organization and as Pakistan’s ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN. He has also served as Senior Consultant to the UN on economic and social matters.

Dr Syed Mohammad Anwer

Dr Syed Mohammad Anwer is an expert of law, human rights and public policy and an author of several books and articles. He is a senior advocate at the Supreme Court of Pakistan. He has held different senior executive positions in public, private and development sectors. He is a former deputy attorney general of Pakistan, former Chairperson of Pakistan Institute of Human Rights, former president of Islamabad Bar Association and a member of IPS National Academic Council. He is currently a member of the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) and a focal person for the Ministry of Human Rights. He is also serving as the President of Maritime Study Forum (MSF).