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The education summary was incorrect, as were both facts and chronological details of his career as a banker. Contrary to the prior info, he did not attend the LSE, not has he ever resided in the UK. In fact, he does not hold a masters degree.
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Khawaja Muhammad Asif was born in [[Sialkot]], [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]], Pakistan, on 9 August 1949. He is of the [[Kashmiri people|Kashmiri]] decent.<ref name="Dawn Newspapers,2013">{{cite news|last1=et. al. dawn staff writer and editor|title=Khawaja Muhammad Asif|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1024457/khawaja-muhammad-asif|accessdate=9 September 2014|agency=Dawn News|publisher=Dawn Newspapers,2013|date=28 April 2013}}</ref> His father, [[Khawaja Muhammad Safdar|Muhammad Safdar]], was an [[:Category:Pakistan Movement activists|activist]] of [[Pakistan Movement]] and had been well known in country's [[Politics of Pakistan|political circles]].<ref name="PID"/> His father was a supporter of the [[President of Pakistan|President]] [[Zia-ul-Haq]]'s conservative programmes.
Khawaja Muhammad Asif was born in [[Sialkot]], [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]], Pakistan, on 9 August 1949. He is of the [[Kashmiri people|Kashmiri]] decent.<ref name="Dawn Newspapers,2013">{{cite news|last1=et. al. dawn staff writer and editor|title=Khawaja Muhammad Asif|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1024457/khawaja-muhammad-asif|accessdate=9 September 2014|agency=Dawn News|publisher=Dawn Newspapers,2013|date=28 April 2013}}</ref> His father, [[Khawaja Muhammad Safdar|Muhammad Safdar]], was an [[:Category:Pakistan Movement activists|activist]] of [[Pakistan Movement]] and had been well known in country's [[Politics of Pakistan|political circles]].<ref name="PID"/> His father was a supporter of the [[President of Pakistan|President]] [[Zia-ul-Haq]]'s conservative programmes.


After attending a local high school in Sialkot, he entered in the Government College University, Lahore to study politics and history, followed by an LLB from Punjab University, Lahore. Shortly after obtaining his LLB he started a career in banking, beginning with a job at a local bank in Sialkot.
After attending a local high school in Sialkot, he entered in the [[University of the Punjab|Punjab University]] to study [[business]] and [[law]] in 1965. In 1970, he graduated [[Double major|dual degrees]], with an [[Bachelor of Arts|BA]] in [[Business administration]] and [[Bachelor of Law|LLB]] in [[Civil law (legal system)|civil law]].<ref name="PID"/> Upon graduation, Asif went onto join the [[Banking in Pakistan|banking industry]] before moving to the [[United Kingdom]] to continue further [[Higher education|post-graduation]] studies. In 1972, Asif attended the [[London School of Economics]] (LSE) where he worked on researching on business-based [[Business economics|economics]] and earned [[Master of Science|MSc]] in [[Economics]] from [[London School of Economics|LSE]] in 1975. Upon graduation, he joined the senior banking staff of the [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International]] (BCCI) in the 1980s.<ref name="PID"/>


Eventually, he moved to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to continue his career in banking. After nearly 17 years in the banking sectors of Pakistan and the UAE he returned to Pakistan to join politics.
Eventually, he moved to [[United Arab Emirates]] (UAE) to take over the local branch; he spent several years as senior banker and finally elevated as senior official of the [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]].<ref name="Private Power and Infrastructure Board">{{cite web|last1=et. al.|first1=PD|title=Profile of Chairman|url=http://www.ppib.gov.pk/N_minister_profile.htm|website=MInistry of Power and Water|publisher=Private Power and Infrastructure Board|accessdate=9 September 2014}}</ref>


===Career in politics ===
===Career in politics ===

Revision as of 14:34, 11 October 2015

MP
Khawaja Muhammad Asif
Defence Minister of Pakistan
Incumbent
Assumed office
27 November 2013
PresidentMamnoon Hussain
Prime MinisterNawaz Sharif
Preceded byNaveed Qamar
ConstituencyNA-110
Minister of Water and power
Incumbent
Assumed office
7 June 2013
PresidentMamnoon Hussain
Prime MinisterNawaz Sharif
Preceded byAhmed Mukhtar
chairman of the Privatization Commission
In office
18 February 1997 – 12 October 1999
Preceded byNaveed Qamar
Succeeded byShaukat Aziz
Personal details
Born
Khawaja Muhammad Asif

(1949-08-09) 9 August 1949 (age 75)
Sialkot, Punjab, Pakistan
CitizenshipPakistan
Nationality Pakistan
Political partyPakistan Muslim League (N)
SpouseMusarrat Asif
Alma materPunjab University
LLB, BBA
London School of Economics
(MSc)
OccupationBanker, businessman
CabinetSharif ministry

Khawaja Muhammad Asif (خواجہ محمد آصف; born 9 August 1949 in Sialkot), is a Pakistani politician, banker, senior conservative thinker, and the current Defence minister as well as Power and Water minister, serving in this capacity since June 2013.[1]

A senior parliamentarian from the Pakistan Muslim League, his electoral career started in 1991 from the NA-110 of Sialkot, Punjab.[2] He is noted for initiating the privatisation of banking sector as well as his tough rhetoric against Pervez Musharraf.[1] In addition, he also short-tenured in the Petroleum ministry in the Gillani cabinet.[3] Differences seemed to develop between Khwaja Asif and Nawaz Sharif when he offered to resign alleging that he did not have control over his own ministry.[4]

Biography

Education and banking career

Khawaja Muhammad Asif was born in Sialkot, Punjab, Pakistan, on 9 August 1949. He is of the Kashmiri decent.[5] His father, Muhammad Safdar, was an activist of Pakistan Movement and had been well known in country's political circles.[2] His father was a supporter of the President Zia-ul-Haq's conservative programmes.

After attending a local high school in Sialkot, he entered in the Government College University, Lahore to study politics and history, followed by an LLB from Punjab University, Lahore. Shortly after obtaining his LLB he started a career in banking, beginning with a job at a local bank in Sialkot.

Eventually, he moved to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to continue his career in banking. After nearly 17 years in the banking sectors of Pakistan and the UAE he returned to Pakistan to join politics.

Career in politics

By 1990, Asif had become close to Agha Hasan Abedi (founder of BCCI) while managing a BCCI's corporate branch in UAE. It was through Hasan Abedi, Asif began to maintain political relationship with the conservative Pakistan Muslim League (N). In 1991, Asif resigned from the BCCI and returned to Pakistan, shortly after the death of his father. In 1991, he first competed for NA-110 constituency for Sialkot and eventually becoming a junior Senator until 1993.[6] From 1993–96, he worked on PML(N)'s public image and participated well for NA-110 constituency during the general elections held in 1997.[6]

Asif was appointed chairman of the Privatization Commission and implemented a rigorous deregulation as well as privatization of banking sector.[6] His tenured was eventually terminated by General Pervez Musharraf in 1999 after staging a self-coup.[7] On 12 October 1999, Asif was arrested and was subjected to torture in a prison.[7] Despite the pressure by Pervez Musharraf to defect, Asif remained loyal to PML(N) and continue his criticism on Pervez Musharraf.[7] In 2002, he again defended the NA-110 constituency in general elections held in 2002.[7] From 2002–07, Asif worked on PML(N)'s public image and party's programme. During this time, he drew a wide criticism on Musharraf and the growing influence of the military in national politics. In 2006, Asif heavily criticised the role of the military at the public circle and well quoted: "people started openly criticising negative role of institutions which in fact was defaming these institutions in the eyes of general public."[7] Responding to charges leveled up against him against the military, Asif stated he could, on record, sacrifice his life for the institution of military.[7] Eventually, his arguments provided a basis for the military to withdraw from the politics and helped the institution to work onto to restore its image in the civil society.[7]

In 2008, Asif again stood well for his NA-110 constituent during the general elections.[6] He was briefly appointed as the Minister Petroleum and Natural Resources with an additional charge of sports before his party pulled out of the Pakistan Peoples Party-led coalition government in 2008.[6]

From 2009–12, he vigorously worked and played a key role in stopping mega corruption at different levels and also created hurdles for future for any corrupt elements; such notable cases include" Rental Power Plants case and LPG quota case.[7]

Minister of Water and Defence (2013–)

In 2013, Asif participated to defend the NA-110 constituency in the general elections, against Firdous Ashiq Awan of the PPP.[8] Asif secured ~92,848 votes with a percentile of 52.46%.[8] On June 7, 2013, he was appointed in the Ministry of Water and Power as its minister.[9]

After the appointments of joint chief committee were finished, Asif was appointed Defence Minister, with an additional department on 27 November 2013.[10] Upon becoming Defence Minister, Asif tightened the government investigations on Musharraf who is facing the treason trial.[11]

Other issues

Dual nationality proceedings

On 4 June 2012, the FIA and the Supreme Court of Pakistan began an investigation and inquiries on Asif's dual nationality charges.[12] A petition admitted by Supreme Court's registrar stated that Asif holds dual nationality, and hence, according to Pakistan's constitution, he is not eligible to hold public office in Pakistan.[12] The petition also included names of 13 other current members of National and Provincial assemblies in Pakistan. However, the court didn't find him guilty in this regard[12] and the petitioner who levelled charges apologised and withdrew from accusations.[12]

References

  1. ^ a b Public domain, Govt. publications. "Ministers in Nawaz cabinet". Prime Minister's Secretariat press release. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  2. ^ a b Govt of Pakistan. "Minister for Water & Power". Govt. of Pakistan. PID. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  3. ^ Sajjad Malik, "24-member federal cabinet takes oath" Daily Times, 1 April 2008
  4. ^ http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-13-33171-Tale-of-Kh-Asifs-frustration-and-resignation
  5. ^ et. al. dawn staff writer and editor (28 April 2013). "Khawaja Muhammad Asif". Dawn Newspapers,2013. Dawn News. Retrieved 9 September 2014. {{cite news}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  6. ^ a b c d e Kazmi, Imran; Dawn.com (28 April 2013). "Khawaja Muhammad Asif by Dawn". Dawn Newspaper, 2013. Dawn Newspaper. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h Noorani, Ahmad (15 April 2014). "Khawaja Asif — the best choice for defence minister". News International, April 15, 2014. News International. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  8. ^ a b "Election results". ECP release to POL. Retrieved 24 September 2014. {{cite web}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |last1= (help)CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)
  9. ^ Hussain, Tayyab (8 June 2013). "25-member cabinet takes oath". Pakistan Today. Pakistan Today. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  10. ^ WEbdesk (27 November 2013). "Additional charge: Khawaja Asif made defence minister". Express News: Express Tribune, 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
  11. ^ Yousaf, Kamran (28 April 2014). "Controversial remarks: Khawaja Asif may lose defence portfolio". Express News, 2014. Express News. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
  12. ^ a b c d "SC resumes hearing in dual nationality case". Dawn.com. 13 June 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2012.

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