Barrister Mohammed Murtaza Chinoy since childhood was a very caring and loving human
being. He loved to laugh and make everybody around him laugh. He had a photographic memory
and was very intelligent. While in high school in the U.S.A he sat for his Advanced Placemat
exam, reaching 40 minutes late for the exam, as he over slept, yet he scored the highest grade in
the whole of the United States.
Mohammed got into a university in the U.S which was especially for gifted youngsters. In his
1st semester he got very sick and had to return to Pakistan to his family. As luck would have
it he applied for the law course in the UK and began his legal education. When he graduated
from Lincolin’s Inn and went for a job interview in the UK, he was asked “why did he become
a lawyer?” Mohammed responded, “my father said I talk too much, so I may as well get paid for
it”. So began his life as a lawyer. He loved arguing in Court and standing up for what he believed
in.
Mohammed was very committed to his principles and always wanted to make a difference. I am
proud to say that in the short life he had, he left his mark on the lives of each person he touched.
I am his older sister, yet for me, my strength came from my brother. He used to always tell me
that I could do anything, I set my mind to, now my test has come. Not a day will pass in my life
when I will not miss my brother.
As a son, Mohammed lived up to his father’s every dream for him and made him proud.
Everybody who met him would say “Like father, like son”.
Mohammed took his mother for Hajj and looked after her in every way possible. 3 years ago his
mother had Dengue, Mohammed slept on the floor in her room, in case she woke up in the night
and needed help. She had a nurse but he was worried that the nurse may be sleeping.
My brother, I am very proud of you and you will always live on in our hearts. You stood up for
justice in your life and now we will stand up for justice for you. I use to always tell Mohammed
a Chinese proverb “may you live in interesting times”. Certainly has proved true in our lives.
My mother and I would like to thank the legal fraternity for their undying support during this
tragedy.
Mohammed always said he would be famous when he died and there would be no standing
space at his Namaz-e-Janaza. His words came true, but, a lot sooner than he imagined. There is
a proverb which says, “we live a hundred lives but only one is worth living, may be this it is”
(unknown). My brother you made your life worth living. He died the way he lived, refusing to
submit to the forces of darkness which seem to be enveloping this country. As long as my mother
and I are alive, you will live on in our hearts, not a day will pass when we will not think of you.
May God bless you always and may you rest in peace.
From a grieving mother and sister.
To my dearest ‘best friend’ and brother Mo,
‘Best friend’ is one of the most extensively and freely used phrases in this world. Little children use
it to refer to their first friends at playschool and the term rallies through life when even parents and
grandparents use it liberally.
We met somewhere in between these junctures of life, in what turned out be the most formative
years. Young, ambitious, aspiring and fresh at Freshers week at university over 16 years ago. No
one will ever doubt what super fun you were. Ever ebullient and always lightening the tone and
putting people at ease. You were an absolute joy and never did that radiance cease to shine, even in
highly troubling times.
What the laughter and incessant joking concealed was one of the finest minds I have ever known.
With great acuity and enormous depth you conquered intellectual discussions with ease. Seems a
fitting career you chose as a Barrister. By golly, we would know, by those endless statutes and case
law that you kept quoting at all your friends!
But the depth of your mind went further than the intricacies of English tort law. You would
accurately quote from the distinguished economists such as Keynes to American poets such as
Whitman and indeed, occasionally from made-up nobodies. I was also once left astounded when
you broke out in fluent French though you had only learnt it as a very young child.
You were a rather bespoke gentleman. I now rarely board flights (even low-cost national ones)
without your signature travel outfit; blazer and slacks.
Also, you never ever had any ill feelings towards anyone. In all these years, I have not once heard
you bad mouth someone, either in their presence or their absence. This, my friend, amongst the
plethora of all your other noble attributes, will land you that staircase to heaven.
Thus, over the many years of our friendship, what you said and your conduct never ceased to
inspire me.
I weep in silence for you. I find it utterly impossible to believe that you are no longer with us.
Nothing can pacify us for this tragic and untimely loss. My prayers are always with you. You were
the best friend, the best brother and indeed the best son.
We last parted after smoking cigars and discussing raison d’être in a terrace in Chelsea in London. I
now realise that it was under such pomp and momentousness that you wanted to say goodbye.
Barrister Mohammed Murtaza Chinoy. I thank you. For bestowing upon me the honour and
privilege of being your best friend. For making me realise the values of true friendship. Never
judging. Sometimes challenging. But always laughing.
So that is what ‘best friends’ are about ultimately. A true companionship of souls.
May God Bless You
Your best friend and brother,
Tups (Saurav Mitra)
It is said that time is a great healer, but despite three months having lapsed since Mohammed passed
away, this grim reality has not sunk in yet, as I write a tribute in his memory.
I first met Mohammed Chinoy when he joined our Firm as an Internee and indicated at the outset that
he was interested in litigation work, which brought him under my supervision. Mohammed went back to
UK and after completing his LL.B degree from University of Kent was called to the Bar from the Lincoln’s
Inn and returned to Pakistan as a Barrister to practice law. His first choice was our law Firm and during
his almost 11 years with the Firm, he blossomed into an astute lawyer. Mohammed’s greatest skill
was that he had a very sharp intellect and came up with some of the most incisive points against the
opposition and sometimes they were hard hitting. It was not uncommon for me to smile at him whilst
settling a particular matter and say “Mohammed its nice to have you on our side. I would hate to be on
your opposite side”. He would give me a beaming smile in all humility and say “Thank you sir” knowing I
had meant it as a very strong compliment.
After a stint of just under 11 years with the Firm, Mohammed decided to establish his own firm at
the end of 2010, and was full of exuberance and determination to succeed at the Bar. His advocacy
was persuasive and he could hold his ground even against senior lawyers. He was hardworking and
somewhat in a hurry to make his mark in the profession. He would never decline work and in his
private practice he probably took up matters where the stakes were high. He was motivated by high
professional considerations and his principle to defend his clients to the best of his ability may have
caused ruffles to some. We are living in dangerous times and these qualities are not accepted in the
same spirit and at times results in a response, which transgresses all known and accepted codes of
conduct, Mohammed was not one to relent or back down. He never felt threatened in pursuing the
interests of his clients in the best way he could and if that required a price to be paid, Mohammed was
willing to pay that price. And he did.
We may ultimately never know what led to this tragic end of a bright young man’s career, the only
son of his mother and the only brother of his sister. Mohammed will always be remembered by his
colleagues and his friends and they will always cherish his memory. He had a short innings in this world
but he played them well. We at the Firm will always remember this smiling young man, always on the
move, perhaps this world could not keep up with his pace. May God bless his soul and grant him eternal
peace.
Sajid Zahid
Barrister-at-Law
Jt. Senior Partner
Orr, Dignam & Co.
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