Wasim Sajjad

Wasim Sajjad
President of Pakistan Acting
In office 2 December 1997 – 1 January 1998
Prime Minister	Nawaz Sharif
Preceded by	Farooq Leghari
Succeeded by	Muhammad Rafiq Tarar
In office 18 July 1993 – 14 November 1993
Prime Minister	Moeenuddin Ahmad Qureshi (Acting) Benazir Bhutto
Preceded by	Ghulam Ishaq Khan
Succeeded by	Farooq Leghari
Chairman of the Senate
In office 24 December 1988 – 12 October 1999
Preceded by	Ghulam Ishaq Khan
Succeeded by	Mohammad Mian Soomro
Minister of the Interior
In office 29 March 1987 – 28 July 1987
Prime Minister	Muhammad Khan Junejo
Preceded by	Muhammad Aslam Khan Khattak
Succeeded by	Malik Nasim Ahmed Aheer
Personal details
Born	30 March 1941 (1941-03-30) Jalandhar, British Raj (now India)
Political party	Pakistan Muslim League- Quaid
Alma mater	Wadham College, Oxford Inns of Court School of Law

Wasim Sajjad (born 30 March 1941) was interim President of Pakistan on two occasions, serving as interim President prior to elections. Currently, being a member of PML-Q, he is the Leader of the Opposition in Senate of Pakistan.

Early life

Wasim Sajjad was born on 30 March 1941 in Jalandhar, Punjab. He spent his childhood days at Army Burn Hall College, Abbottabad, from where he completed his O and A Levels. His father, the late Mr Justice Sajjad Ahmed Jan, served as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, and later as the Chief Election Commissioner. Wasim Sajjad would follow in his footsteps, becoming a lawyer, and attending Wadham College, Oxford University on a Rhodes Scholarship.

Education

He took a degree in Jurisprudence in 1966, and the Degree of Bachelor of Civil Law from Oxford University in 1967. He was also awarded an M. A. from the University of Oxford in 1967. He obtained first position in Administrative Law at Oxford and was called to the Bar by the Inner Temple, London. At Oxford, Wasim Sajjad was also the President of the Oxford University Islamic Society in 1966, and President of the Oxford University Pakistan Society from 1965 to 1966. He was elected President Oxford University Birkenhead Society 1965-1967, and as Secretary of Wadham College, Oxford, in 1966. He later graduated in 1964.

Political career and President of Pakistan

His political career began in the 1980s when he was elected to the Pakistani Senate. He served as the Federal Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary affairs, and also held the portfolio of the Federal Minister for Interior, under the Government of Prime Minister Muhammad Khan Junejo. He moved up to Chairman of the Senate in 1988, and served his first term as President in 1993, following the resignation of Ghulam Ishaq Khan. As interim president, Sajjad was essentially a placeholder for the office until elections were completed. He would run in the election for President, but was defeated by Farooq Leghari. In 1997, Sajjad was again made interim President and stepped down upon the election of Muhammad Rafiq Tarar.

In 2002, Sajjad was accused of mis-use of government vehicles and phones, amounting to millions of rupees. He was ordered to pay a fine, but served no time in jail.

See also

• Establishment (Pakistan)

External links

• Wasim Sajjad profile Story of Pakistan

Political offices
Preceded by Muhammad Aslam Khan Khattak	Minister of the Interior 1987	Succeeded by Malik Nasim Ahmed Aheer
Preceded by Ghulam Ishaq Khan	Chairman of the Senate 1988–1999	Succeeded by Muhammad Mian Soomro
	President of Pakistan Acting 1993	Succeeded by Farooq Leghari
Preceded by Farooq Leghari	President of Pakistan Acting 1997–1998	Succeeded by Muhammad Rafiq Tarar