The correct answer is 1985–1988.Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada officially assumed the office of the Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in January 1985. His appointment was a significant moment in the diplomatic history of the late 20th century, as... Read More
The correct answer is 1985–1988.
Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada officially assumed the office of the Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in January 1985. His appointment was a significant moment in the diplomatic history of the late 20th century, as he was the first and, to date, the only Pakistani to hold this prestigious international position. Pirzada was elected during the 15th Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (ICFM) held in Sana’a, North Yemen, in December 1984, succeeding the Tunisian diplomat Habib Chatty.
Before reaching the OIC, Pirzada had already established a formidable reputation as a legal expert and a high-ranking statesman. His background as a former Foreign Minister of Pakistan and a multiple-time Attorney General provided him with the unique blend of legal precision and diplomatic tact required to lead a body of 57 member states. Upon taking the oath in 1985, he moved to the OIC headquarters in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to begin a term that would be defined by intense geopolitical friction within the Muslim world.
The period of 1985 to 1988 was one of the most volatile eras for the OIC. The foremost challenge during Pirzada’s tenure was the ongoing Iran-Iraq War. By the time he took office, the conflict had been raging for nearly five years with no end in sight. Pirzada was a central figure in the OIC’s Peace Committee, frequently traveling between Tehran and Baghdad. He utilized his legal expertise to draft mediation frameworks that sought to bring both nations to the negotiating table, emphasizing the "Islamic brotherhood" and the economic toll the war was taking on the region.
Simultaneously, the Soviet-Afghan War was nearing its final stages. Pirzada’s leadership coincided with a period where the OIC became more vocal in its support for the Afghan resistance and the millions of refugees fleeing into neighboring countries. Under his guidance, the OIC maintained a firm stance on the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan, aligning the organization’s policy with international law and UN resolutions.
Beyond crisis management, Pirzada focused heavily on the internal structure of the OIC. He believed that the organization lacked a strong legal foundation to enforce its resolutions. During his three-year term, he worked on refining the OIC Charter and strengthening the role of the International Islamic Court of Justice. He advocated for the better protection of the rights of Muslim minorities in non-member states and sought to increase economic cooperation through the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC).
As 1988 approached, Pirzada's term concluded, and he was succeeded by Hamid Algabid of Niger. While his official tenure lasted only three years, the groundwork he laid for legal documentation within the OIC persisted for decades. His exit from the OIC in 1988 did not end his international career; he continued to be a prominent voice in the United Nations and various international legal forums. His time as Secretary-General remains a distinct chapter where a constitutional mind attempted to bring order to a fractured geopolitical landscape
Discussion
Leave a Comment