Aamir Liaquat Hussain

Dr. Aamir Liaquat Hussain (born July 5, 1971 in Karachi, Pakistan) is the former Pakistani minister of state for religious affairs, columnist and a TV anchor. He is best known as the rhetoric host of the most popular TV show in the Islamic World (or more specifically in Urdu/Hindi speaking community) Aalim Online being telecasted on Geo TV since 2002 that made him a household name. He is the son of Sheikh Liaquat Hussain and Begum Mehmooda Sultana who, like himself, was an active Politicians. His mother died on June 12 2005 and she was a President of PML women's Wing while his Father left PML and Joined Muttahida Qaumi Movement. Aamir Liaquat is also a prominent Naat-Khawan (a form of Muslim choir) and trend setter of religious programmes in Pakistan creating a light and soft (and often misleading) image.

Education

In reality Aamir Liaquat Hussain only holds a Bachelor's degree. In the early 1990s he immigrated to the United Arab Emirates and worked for a radio station in addition to an Urdu newspaper. He also received an award for being the best radio presenter frm the Governmtent of the UAE. In April 2002, he 'BOUGHT' his master's degree from a university based in Spain which offers degrees based on life experiences. And then his doctorate degree after a few days. The difference between the date when he received his master's degree and his doctorate degree is of just twenty days! That means he did his PhD in just twenty days! (This is not true - fabricated, he got cleared on these charges long time ago!). However, there are so many websites quoting the fact that his degrees are fake, including a news in Pakistan's Daily Dawn.

Career

Politics

Aamir Liaquat entered politics in 1988 by joining the All Pakistan Mohajir Students Organisation (APMSO) though he was not so active in the organization. Nevertheless he was the editor of an Urdu newspaper ‘Parcham’ which was a strong spokesman for the party. Before him, his father Shiekh Liaquat Hussain was a permanent MQM member.

Before the 2002 general elections of Pakistan, President Pervez Musharraf invited him to extend his help in various national affairs, for which he found it necessary to make himself active in his own party before coming into the mainstream of politics. After the elections he served as minister of state for religious affairs for almost four years. However, some people believe that he was selected due to his vocal performance on television, Pervaiz Musharraf was so impressed that he made him minister. He has tendered his resignation from his office and from his national assembly membership on July 4 2007[1] after his party chief Altaf Hussain reacted strongly to Aamir Liaquat's statements against the Knighthood of Salman Rushdie.

Media career

He has an immense experience of mass media. He has worked in both electronic and print media and left his foot prints to be emulated by others. Now his coloumns in Daily Jang (http://www.jang.net/editorial/) gain a huge popularity and applause from the masses amazingly. He is famous for attacking Pervaiz Musharraf after he had to step down from ministry. Most of his columns are rhetorical and has no substance in them.

In print media

He served as an editor of The Daily Parcham, Daily Qomi Akhbar and Daily Jurrat. He is also a permanent columnist at the most circulated daily Urdu newspaper of Pakistan, i.e. Jang. His columns are mostly hatred and are greatly liked by a specific group of readers due to the fact that they focus all areas let it be political, religious, social or current affairs. His columns show his vast (false) knowledge. In his columns he also criticizes on the Government of General Musharraf. There are views that his writing were also noticed by Mr. Altaf Hussain and resulted in his forced resignation from his ministership and seat of National Assembly.

In electronic media

He served as program director for Radio Asia in the United Arab Emirates. He was named best Urdu Newsreader by the Government of Ras Al Khaima, United Arab Emirates.

Before joining Geo TV as a Director Religious Affairs, he worked in the social sector as program manager of the Teachers Resource Centre, an NGO devoted to education.citation

He was Geo TV's first newscaster, and has subsequently become the channel's leading anchor and host. His program Aalim Online revolutionized religious programming in the region and made him a household name in Pakistan.

Religious inclination

He is not a narrow minded religious scholar and believes that all prophets should be given respect and should not be disgraced at any cost. He is also famously noted for striking a balance between the Sunni and Shia schools of thought by presenting rational views. He is also a great preacher of Interfaith Harmony in Pakistan and trying to eliminate the gap between Islam and other religions. The reason for his resignation was same that he wanted that Muhammad should be respected by every one and if one uses blasphemous words he should be given punishment instead of honoring the person with titles. However, according to Hadiths or traditions of Muhammad and Quran, no punishment is required. THIS IS NOT CORRECT. THERE ARE MANY HADITH AND REFERENCES WHEREBY THE BLASPHEMOUS PEOPLE WERE ELIMINATED WITH THE WILLINGNESS OF THE PROPHET MOHAMMAD (SAW)

Aalim Online

Aalim (informed) Online has the credit to be the very first online religious Q&A program in Pakistan TV history. It debuted in 2002 from Geo TV and becomes the benchmark for all the religious programs. Aalim Online is the first religious program which brings novelty and originality in its format. However, most of episodes are more of a personal show offs with exotic clothes and vocal performance. Similarly, many episodes are based on worthless debates and result is giving wrong or incomplete information to the people of Pakistan or Urdu/Hind speaking community.

Since the beginning of Aalim Online, it has been a platform where scholars from both Sunni and Shia sects have been invited to share their views. Although this idea sounds difficult to handle, but no grudges and resentments have ever developed in the hearts of masses. AAMIR LIAQUAT HUSSAIN HAS RECENTLY HIMSELF INSULTED THE COMPANIONS OF THE PROPHET (SAW) (THE SAHABAH RIZWANULLAH ALAEYHEM). WATCH HIM IN VIDEO AT http://www.ahnaf.com and search for his video and then subsequent

It has been a trend setter in a way that it brings together not only two major sects of Muslims on one platform but it also invited the scholars of other religions like Hindus, Christians and Parsis. Certainly it is an endeavor to resolve innumerable conflicts prevailing in the society.

Aalim Online has also been well acknowledged for its special episodes, which raises the curtains from the bitter realities of society. This program has become a bandwagon effort for discussing and resolving those issues which nobody had ever thought to illuminate on air. AOL facilitates people to understand Islam and it helps to clear many misconceptions related to religion. The words “Harmony and Tolerance” can best define the message which has been spreading by this programme.

Aamir Liaquat Hussain is also well famous for the special transmission which he does in Ramzan. He has been doing the live transmission in the whole month of Ramzan for last five years. This year in Ramzan (2007) he presented an outstanding transmission by the name of Salam Ramzan, where he did a commendable job and it was immensely watched and appreciated by not only local audience but internationally as well.

He presented a marathon National Solidarity Program, which he conducted for 14 hours without a break.

Two People Embraced Islam

Two people embraced Islam on Friday on telephone during a popular religious TV programme telecast at Iftar time from the Dubai Media City.

The programme titled 'Aalim On Line' from Geo TV, is hosted by Dr Aamir Liaquat Hussain, Pakistan's Minister of State for Religious Affairs.

According to Khaleej Times that the two men, Raja Shakeel, a Pakistani Christian from Lahore, and Vicky, an Indian Hindu from Sonapur in Dubai, had called during the programme and communicated their decision to embrace Islam. They were renamed Mohammad Shakeel and Abdullah.

Later, Dr Aamir told a Suhoor gathering that the earthquake in Kashmir and Pakistan was a warning from Allah to correct ourselves. He said that the earthquake had united the Pakistanis.

The programme was hosted by leading Pakistani businessmen, Kamran Khan of Tessori Jewellery, and Gul Memon of Pure Food.

KhaleejTimes/Sunday- 30th October.2005

Controversies

He was constantly on multiple radars due to his past association with MQM,his status as television celebrity!ffgg

Resignation from the National Assembly

He became a controversy in his own party and was forced to resign when he issued statements against Salman Rushdie, the controversial British Knight accused of blasphemy against Muhammad. These statements had caused trouble for party chief Altaf Hussain who is London based.

Attack On Aamir Liaquat by Religious Extremistat at Sunni cleric funeral

The funeral passed peacefully but tension remains high More than 10,000 mourners have attended the funeral of a Sunni Muslim cleric in the Pakistani city of Karachi amid protests at his murder. Mufti Attiqur Rahman was shot in his car by unidentified gunmen on Thursday. A second man in the vehicle died later. Junior minister Amir Liaquat Hussain went to offer condolences at a city mosque but was beaten by a mob, he told the BBC. Karachi has been torn by Sunni-Shia sectarian violence in recent years. About 1,000 policeman were deployed for the funeral of Mufti Rahman, 55, and his friend, Mohammed Irshad.

Please help me, get me out of here, Amir Liaquat Hussain, minister

The funeral passed off generally peacefully but Mr Hussain, Pakistan's junior minister for religious affairs, said he was set upon by an angry mob as he said funeral prayers atthe Binori town mosque and was trapped in a building nearby. "I am in bad shape. I am bleeding," he said when the BBC News website contacted him by mobile phone. He could be heard urging the authorities to send help on another line. "Please come with an armoured car... I am bleeding. My life is in danger. Please help me, get me out of here."A police official told Associated Press Mr Hussain had now been rescued.

A man cast a stone which started a few ripples

A few months ago, a man cast a stone which started a few ripples: his name is Amir Liaquat Hussain, and he is Vice-Minister of Religious Affairs but also a television star. He is the animator of a television show on Islam, "Alim online" and defines himself as a modern predicator. At the time of an AIDS conference in Islamabad, in December 2004, Mr. Hussain did not hesitate to declare that the mullahs enrolled in AIDS prevention programs did not always meet the moral standards required because they were implicated in the regular sexual abuse of their students. The Vice-Minister equally revealed to the press that the pholice had received over 400 compalints about the rape of children committed by mullahs, in 2004. According to him, more than a dozen mullahs had been arrested by police, but they were quickly released "for lack of evidence". "I was the first that dared speak", he congratulates himself in his Islamabad office. "It is s probem which exists in all religions, but here we cover our face(?). I tell the truth to Pakistanis and to the international community. It's a question of humanity, of ethics. These abuse do not occur only in madrasssas, but those that do give a bad image of Islam. That which worries me, are the criminal acts committed by the mullahs".

Since these declarations, he has become the lightning rod for the powerful in the religious world who managed to obtain a public apology from him. Hussain, who sits in Parliament as well, assures us, however, that the President, Pervez Moucharraf, and the Prime Minister, Shaukat Aziz, approve of his position. However, they have managed not to express this to him publicly. "I would like to change things", he declares, "but I would need the help of the Muslim World because it is very delicate politically. I have received death threats, and I am fighting against very powerful extremists, who are fascist." One of the people responsible for the Binoria Site madrassa of Karachi who has close ties to the Taliban, the mullah Gulam Rassoul, fulminates still against "this Hussain, this sequined television imator". "Because", he protests, "there is no abuse whre we are, even if it happens elsewhere".

Since, this affair has fallen into general indifference. Hussain has found himself alone and nothing has been done to resolve the problem. The government, which has started a plan to reform the madrassas, two years ago, has found itself walking into a brick wall of bad intentions. These independent schools refuse to register, even if it means they do not receive government money for subsidies. One cannot even guess at their number: anywhere from 10,000 to 30,000 religious schools that could have half a million students. DIfficult then to put in plan a modernization plan which had a transparencey of financing and curriculum as goals, as well as the teaching of new subject matter. The religious "directors", which the government cannot afford to cross, do not like having other people noses' in their affairs (business).

The young students remain at the mercy of the predators who cloak themselves in religion to commit their crimes with impunity.

Suicide attacks un-Islamic, 58 Ulema’s decree

A group of 58 religious scholars representing all schools of thought have issued a Fatwa (edict) stating that Islam strictly forbids suicide attacks on Muslims and those committing such acts at places of worship and public congregations cease to be Muslims.

However, the Ulema led by chairman Tanzimul Madaris Pakistan and chairman Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Mufti Munibur Rehman, clarified that the Fatwa applies only to conditions in Pakistan and those running freedom movements in places like Palestine, Iraq and Kashmir are out of its scope.

The Fatwa holds that killing of innocent human beings is Haram (forbidden) in Islam and carries death penalty, Qisas and compensation, etc. Killing a fellow Muslim without Islamic and legal reasons is even a bigger crime, it said.

The Fatwa said killing any non-Muslim citizen or foreigner visiting the country is also forbidden in Islam since those people are under protection of the Pakistan government.

Signatories to the Fatwa, however, did not contain top names of all schools of thought except Qari Hanif Jallundhari, Maulana Abdul Maalik, Mufti Ubaidullah Ashrafi, Yaqoob Tawassuli, etc. Mostly the signatories are from Karachi where Mufti Munibur Rehman is based.

Minister of State for Religious Affairs Dr Aamir Liaquat Hussain congratulated the nation over the issuance of fatwa by Ulema to declare suicide bombing in the name of jihad as Haram.

"The fatwa has proved that Islam is a religion of peace and non-violence which is not against any sect, creed or ideology," the minister said while talking to The News Tuesday. The fatwa became possible due to relentless efforts of Dr Aamir, who has been in contact with Ulema of all schools of though for the last six months.

The minister described the decree as a "monumental success of the Pakistani nation" and an unprecedented expression of religious harmony. Dr Aamir said the edict has proved that Ulema are broadminded and knowledgeable and understand issues and problems and give their opinion in the best interest of the Muslim Ummah.

The minister saluted the Ulema, who put their signatures on the decree, and appealed to the nation to observe the coming Friday as Thanksgiving Day. He urged the West to stop propaganda against Islam and said the fatwa was an unparalleled demonstration of Islamic enlightened moderation. The Pakistani nation is grateful to the Ulema, he added.

Dr Aamir said the decree has added a new chapter to Pakistan’s history. "We are thankful to Allah Almighty and bow before Him in all humbleness and pray that He brings success to our efforts," he said.

Personal life

Aamir Liaquat has married (arranged) with a girl name Bushra who got fame through Aamir Liaquat for presenting a television program Chhoti si Naiki. After marriage the couple spent seven years in a rented house. Curretnly they are living in a house which they have taken on installments. His wife did her Masters after marriage and is now studying law. He has a son Ahmed who is six-year-old and a daughter Dua is two-and-a-half-year old.

Naats

• Meetha Meetha Hai Mere Muhammad ka Naam (Very Sweet is the name of Muhammad)
• Hum Faqeeron Ko Vol 5 (For us beggars)
• Main Sajda Karoon Vol 6 (I bow)
• Mera Madni Aaqa Aya Vol 7 (My lord arrived at Madina)
• Yaad-e-Mustafa Vol 8 (Remembering Mustafa)
• Mujhe Bhi Madine Bula Vol 9 (Call me to Madina too)
• Main To Panjatan Ka Ghulam Houn (I am a slave of Panjatan) ( Download Required, Please Help Upload and copy link here)
• Khula Hai Sabhi Key Liye Bab-e-Rahmat (The door of blessings is open for all)
• Ramazan Assalam www.vidpk.com/view_video.php?vid=2716 - 37k -
• AND MANY MANY MORE.....

See also

• Islamic music
• Islamic electronic media in Pakistan
• Geo TV

References

3. www.aswatalislam.net/DisplayFilesP.aspx?TitleID=50012 - 30k -

[1]

External links

• Listen Amir Liaqat Naats in Mp3
• News of his resignation
• Read Aamir Liaquat Hussain columns at IBITIANS.com
• Amir Liaqat Attacking the sahaba, the companions of the Prophet Muhammed SAW
• [2]