16 Facts About Agha Shahi

Agha Shahi, NI, was a Pakistani career Foreign service officer who was the leading civilian figure in the military government of former President General Zia-ul-Haq from 1977 to 1982.

Agha Shahi departed from country in 1982 to join the United Nations General Assembly and served as the Chairman of UN Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination until 1990, and served as the Chairman of the Pakistan delegation at World Conference on Human Rights.

Agha Shahi was born in Bangalore, India to the local Urdu-speaking community, the son of an educator who was the principal of a government school.

Agha Shahi was educated in Bangalore, excelling in his science courses.

In 1939, Shahi enrolled in Indian Institute of Science where he joined the Department of Physics and received a BSc in physics, followed by an MSc in applied physics and an MA in mathematics in 1944.

Agha Shahi had a long career as a Pakistani diplomat, beginning in 1951.

Agha Shahi served as Pakistan's ambassador to the United Nations, and China and served in many other positions.

Agha Shahi opted for the Foreign Service of Pakistan in 1951 and played a prominent role in formulation of foreign policy right from the early years of Pakistan's creation.

Agha Shahi served as Counselor in the Pakistan Embassy in Washington from 1955 to 1958.

Agha Shahi was Pakistan's Deputy Permanent Representative to UN from 1958 to 1961 and later served as Permanent Representative to United Nations from 1967 to 1972.

Agha Shahi became Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1964 and served in that position till 1967.

In 1973, Agha Shahi became Foreign Secretary and served in that position till the fall of Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in 1977.

Agha Shahi led various delegations of Pakistan to UN General Assembly, conferences of Non-Aligned Movement and Organization of Islamic Conference.

Agha Shahi was a member of various UN commissions and was elected Chairman of the UN Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination of which he had been a member since 1982.

In 1993, Agha Shahi was co-chairman of the Pakistan delegation to the World Conference on Human Rights held in Vienna.

Agha Shahi was the younger brother of Agha Hilaly who joined ICS and later opted for Pakistan's foreign service, serving as Pakistan's Ambassador in important capitals such as London, Moscow and Washington.