Attaullah Tarar
Attaullah Tarar | |
|---|---|
| Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting | |
| Assumed office 11 March 2024 | |
| Prime Minister | Shahbaz Sharif |
| Preceded by | Murtaza Solangi (as Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting) Amir Muqam (as Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture) |
| Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan | |
| Assumed office 29 February 2024 | |
| Constituency | NA-127 Lahore-XI |
| Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Interior and Legal Affairs | |
| In office 16 December 2022 – 10 August 2023 | |
| Prime Minister | Shehbaz Sharif |
| Special Assistant to the Prime Minister | |
| In office 28 July 2022 – 16 December 2022 | |
| Prime Minister | Shehbaz Sharif |
| Home Minister of Punjab | |
| In office 30 May 2022 – 26 July 2022 | |
| Spokesperson of the Government of Punjab | |
| In office 24 May 2022 – 26 July 2022 | |
| Personal details | |
| Nationality | Pakistani |
| Political party | Pakistan Muslim League (N) (2022-present) |
| Relations | Muhammad Rafiq Tarar (grandfather) Saira Afzal Tarar (aunt) Bilal Farooq Tarar (brother) |
Attaullah Tarar (Urdu/Punjabi: عطاء اللہ تارڑ) is a Pakistani politician who is the current Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, in office since 12 March 2024. He has been a Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan since February 2024.
Early life and education
He received an LLB (Hons) degree from the University of London.[1]
Political career
In December 2021, a First Information Report (FIR) was filed against Tarar after he, along with a mob of armed individuals, forcibly entered the residence of Syed Mir Wasiq, a candidate of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) during the by-election in Khanewal. Allegations were made that Tarar threatened, intimidated, and harassed women and family members of Wasiq.[2]
He held the position of Deputy Secretary-General of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N) and has previously served as an additional secretary.[1]
On 24 May 2022, Chief Minister of Punjab Hamza Shahbaz appointed him as the spokesperson of the Government of Punjab, on an honorary and non-remunerative basis.[1] On May 30, 2022, Tarar was appointed as the Home Minister in the shortlived cabinet of Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz.[3]
In June 2022, he faced criticism on social media after a video of him went viral, wherein he was observed displaying the middle finger in the Punjab Assembly, while holding a copy of the Constitution. After facing criticism on social media for allegedly showing disrespect towards the Constitution and violating the decorum of the Assembly, Atta posted an "apology".[4]
On July 28, 2022, he was appointed as the Special Assistant to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, with the status of a Federal Minister. On December 16, 2022, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appointed Tarar as his special assistant on interior and legal affairs.[5]
Following the May 9 riots, he held frequent media interactions, criticizing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan.[6]
In 2022, Farah Khan, a friend of Bushra Bibi, issued a final legal notice to Tarar, asking him to stop making defamatory statements about her.[7]
He was elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan as a candidate of PML-N from Constituency NA-127 Lahore-XI in 2024 Pakistani general election.[8] He received 98,210 votes and defeated PTI-backed independent candidate Malik Zaheer Abbas who received 82,230 votes and also Bilawal Bhutto Zardari who received 15,005 votes.[9] However, Malik Zaheer Abbas contested Tarar's election victory in court, accusing the Election Commission of Pakistan of manipulating and forging Forms 45 and 47 to declare Tarar the winning candidate.[10]
On 11 March, he was inducted into the federal cabinet of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and was appointed as Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting.[11] On May 17, 2024 Tarar was assigned additional portfolio of National Heritage and Culture.[12]
In May 2024, during Shehbaz Sharif's visit to Iran, Tarar, acted as his personal photographer upon landing at the airport, which prompted criticism from the public.[13]
References
- ^ a b c "PML-N's Attaullah Tarar appointed as Punjab government's spokesperson". Geo.tv. 24 May 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
- ^ "Attaullah Tarar, 60 Others Booked For Breaking Into PPP Leader's House". The Friday Times. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
- ^ "Political limbo ends as Punjab cabinet sworn in". The Express Tribune. 30 May 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
- ^ "Dear Atta Tarrar, Showing Middle Finger In The Assembly Can Never Be Justified". The Friday Times. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
- ^ "Attaullah Tarar appointed SAPM on interior". The Nation. 16 December 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
- ^ "All you need to know about the new faces in PM Shehbaz's 19-member cabinet". DAWN.COM. 12 March 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
- ^ Bilal, Rana (11 August 2022). "Farah Khan sends another legal notice to PML-N's Attaullah Tarar against alleged defamation". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ "NA 127: Bilawal Bhutto defeated in Lahore, Atta Tarar successful". Daily Times. 9 February 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
- ^ Desk, Web (8 February 2024). "NA-127: Elections 2024 Pakistan results LIVE". ARY NEWS. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
{{cite news}}:|last1=has generic name (help) - ^ "Notices on plea against Tarar's victory". DAWN.COM. 29 June 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ Guramani, Nadir (11 March 2024). "PM Shehbaz's 19-member cabinet sworn in". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
- ^ "Atta Tarar gets additional portfolio of National Heritage & Culture". APP.COM.PK. 17 May 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
- ^ "Atta Tarar's 'embarrassing' photo-session in Tehran draws criticism". 23 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
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