He was born on 2 August 1937 in Sanawan in Kot Addu, Punjab to a wealthy landlord family belonging to the Kharclan, of the larger Kharal tribe.
In 1967, Khar joined Zulfikar Ali Bhutto as one of the founding members of the Pakistan Peoples Party as a close personal friend and political ally.
He was appointed Governor and Martial Law Administrator of Punjab, the most electorally powerful province in the country by the newly sworn in President Bhutto following the collapse of Yahya Khan's military government.
By 1976, former rivals within the PPP, Khar and Ramay were working together within the Pir of Pagaro's Pakistan Muslim League (F).
[13] His son, Bilal Mustafa Khar was accused by his former wife Fakhra Younus of pouring acid over her face.