Upon graduating from the Punjab University, he enrolled as an Advocate at the local District court in 1977, and later enrolled as an Advocate at the Lahore High Court in 1981.[3] During this time, he became member of Punjab Bar Council and became its Vice Chairman in 1982. During this time, he built up political relations with the members of the PPP and became its general secretary for Islamabad wing.[3]
On 29 December 2018, Bukhari was indirectly accused by Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) professor Pervez Hoodbhoy of stealing QAU land and building a personal 'palace' as well as other buildings for his relatives upon the stolen university land. In the Dawn newspaper op-ed, Hoodbhoy mentioned "The palace’s owner proudly identifies himself as former chairman of the Pakistan Senate and a member of the PPP. For a few short days during 2013, he had also been the acting president of Pakistan...Thereafter, a hitherto unnamed road running across the campus suddenly acquired a signboard — "Nayyar Bukhari Road".[6][7]
On 5 January 2019, the Capital Development Authority (Islamabad) along with Islamabad Capital Territory demolished the structures that were built illegally as a part of Mr. Bukhari’s residence as a part of an anti-encroachment drive led by the two to retrieve land that belongs to the Quaid-i-Azam University.[8]