Khawaja Asif
Khawaja Muhammad Asif | |
---|---|
Defence Minister of Pakistan | |
Assumed office 27 November 2013 | |
President | Mamnoon Hussain |
Prime Minister | Nawaz Sharif |
Preceded by | Naveed Qamar |
Constituency | NA-110 |
Minister of Water and power | |
Assumed office 7 June 2013 | |
President | Mamnoon Hussain |
Prime Minister | Nawaz Sharif |
Preceded by | Ahmed Mukhtar |
chairman of the Privatization Commission | |
In office 18 February 1997 – 12 October 1999 | |
Preceded by | Naveed Qamar |
Succeeded by | Shaukat Aziz |
Personal details | |
Born | Khawaja Muhammad Asif 9 August 1949 Sialkot, Punjab, Pakistan |
Citizenship | Pakistan |
Nationality | Pakistan |
Political party | Pakistan Muslim League (N) |
Spouse | Musarrat Asif |
Alma mater | Government College University, Lahore (BA), Punjab University, Lahore (LLB) |
Occupation | Banker, Politican |
Cabinet | Sharif ministry |
Khawaja Muhammad Asif (خواجہ محمد آصف; born 9 August 1949 in Sialkot), is a Pakistani politician, banker, cabinet member, and the current Minister for Water & Power, also holding the additional charge for Minister of Defence. A senior parliamentarian from the Pakistan Muslim League, his electoral career started in the Pakistan Senate in 1991. Punjab.[1] He is noted for initiating the privatisation of banking sector as well as his tough rhetoric against Pervez Musharraf.[2] In addition, he also short-tenured in the Petroleum ministry in the Gillani cabinet.[3]
Biography
Education and banking career
Khawaja Muhammad Asif was born in Sialkot, Punjab, Pakistan, on 9 August 1949. He is of the Kashmiri decent.[4] His father, Muhammad Safdar, was an activist of Pakistan Movement, whose political career in Pakistan began shortly after partition, and continued till his retirement in the early '80s.
After attending a local high school in Sialkot, he enrolled in the University of the Punjab, where he graduated with BA and LLB degrees in 1970.[5]
He joined the banking sector shortly after graduating from Punjab University, taking his first job in his hometown of Sialkot.
Eventually, he moved to United Arab Emirates (UAE) and joined the Bank of Oman (now Mashreq Bank). He would later go on to join the BCCI where he worked until launching his political career.
A businessman and a banker by profession, he earned B.A/L.L.B degrees from University of the Punjab in 1970.
Career in politics
In 1991, Asif resigned from the BCCI and returned to Pakistan, shortly after the death of his father.[citation needed] In 1991, he became a member of the Senate of Pakistan and remained a Senator until 1993. His first election for the National Assembly of Pakistan was in 1993, which he went on to win, representing the people of NA-110 to the present day, after winning consecutive elections in 1997, 2002, 2008 and 2013.
Asif was appointed chairman of the Privatization Commission in 1997.[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 criticised the role of the military.[7] Responding to charges leveled up against him against the military, Asif stated he could, sacrifice his life for the institution of military.[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 filed Public Interest Litigation against the corruption of the then Federal Government, that included Rental Power Plants case and LPG quota case.[7][8]
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.[9] Asif secured ~92,848 votes with a percentile of 52.46%.[9] On June 7, 2013, he was appointed in the Ministry of Water and Power as its minister.[10]
After the appointments of joint chief committee were finished, Asif was appointed Defence Minister, with an additional department on 27 November 2013.[11] Upon becoming Defence Minister, Asif tightened the government investigations on Musharraf who is facing the treason trial.[12]
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.[13] 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.[13] 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[13] and the petitioner who levelled charges apologised and withdrew from accusations.[13]
References
- ^ Govt of Pakistan. "Minister for Water & Power". Govt. of Pakistan. PID. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Prime Minister's Secretariat press release
was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Sajjad Malik, "24-member federal cabinet takes oath" Daily Times, 1 April 2008
- ^ 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) - ^ "Chairman's Profile". Private Power & Infrastructure Board, Government of Pakistan. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
- ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference
Dawn Newspaper, 2013
was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b c d e f g Noorani, Ahmad (15 April 2014). "Khawaja Asif — the best choice for defence minister". News International, April 15, 2014. News International. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
- ^ Ibrahim, Anjum (13 October 2014). "As opposition good, in government poor!". Business Recorder. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
- ^ 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) - ^ Hussain, Tayyab (8 June 2013). "25-member cabinet takes oath". Pakistan Today. Pakistan Today. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
- ^ WEbdesk (27 November 2013). "Additional charge: Khawaja Asif made defence minister". Express News: Express Tribune, 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
- ^ Yousaf, Kamran (28 April 2014). "Controversial remarks: Khawaja Asif may lose defence portfolio". Express News, 2014. Express News. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
- ^ a b c d "SC resumes hearing in dual nationality case". Dawn.com. 13 June 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
External links
- Living people
- 1949 births
- Kashmiri people
- People from Sialkot
- Pakistani politicians
- Punjabi people
- Pakistani bankers
- University of the Punjab alumni
- Alumni of the London School of Economics
- Pakistan Muslim League (N) politicians
- Pakistani expatriates in the United Arab Emirates
- Water and Power Ministers of Pakistan
- Defence Ministers of Pakistan
- Pakistani democracy activists