Syed Fakhar Imam

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Syed Fakhar Imam (Urdu: سید فخر امام; born 18 December 1942)[1] is a Pakistani politician and statesman who has held several positions in the Government of Pakistan including, the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, the Minister for Law and the Minister for Education,[2] and served as Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, from April 2020 to April 2022.[3] He was preceded by Malik Meraj Khalid, serving as the 11th speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan from 1985 to 1986.[4][5][6] Imam has previously worked as the Chairman of Pakistan's Parliamentary Special Committee on Kashmir.[7]

Fakhar Imam
سید فخر امام
Imam in 2012
Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research
In office
6 April 2020 – 10 April 2022
PresidentArif Alvi
Prime MinisterImran Khan
Preceded byKhusro Bakhtiar
Succeeded byTariq Bashir Cheema
Chairman of Parliamentary Special Committee on Kashmir
In office
1 March 2019 – 6 April 2020
Succeeded byShehryar Khan Afridi
Federal Minister for Education
In office
9 November 1990 – 18 July 1993
PresidentGhulam Ishaq Khan
Prime MinisterNawaz Sharif
Federal Minister for Law
In office
9 November 1990 – March 1991
PresidentGhulam Ishaq Khan
Prime MinisterNawaz Sharif
Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs
In office
November 1990 – March 1991
PresidentGhulam Ishaq Khan
Prime MinisterNawaz Sharif
Leader of the Opposition
In office
June 1986 – May 1988
11th Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan
In office
22 March 1985 – 29 May 1986
DeputyWazir Ahmed Jogezai
Federal Minister for Local Government and Rural Development
In office
9 March 1981 – 8 December 1983
Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan
In office
13 August 2018 – 10 August 2023
ConstituencyNA-150 Khanewal-I
In office
1997–1999
ConstituencyKhanewal
In office
1990–1993
ConstituencyNA-121 Khanewal-I
In office
1985–1988
ConstituencyNA-111 Multan-I
In office
9 March 1981 – 24 March 1985
ConstituencyMartial Law Government
Personal details
Born (1942-12-18) 18 December 1942 (age 81)
Political party PTI (present)
Other political
affiliations
PMLN (2022-2023)
PTI (2018-2022)
PMLN (2013-2018)
PPP (2008-2013)
PML-Q (2001-2008)
PMLN (1997-1999)
PPP (1993-1996)
PMLN (1990-1993)
Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (1988-1990)
Pakistan Muslim League (1985-1988)
SpouseAbida Hussain
ChildrenSyeda Sughra Imam, Syeda Umme Kulsum, Syed Abid Hussain Imam

He was elected to the national assembly as independent party candidate and subsequently joined Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).[8]

Early life and education

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Imam was born on December 18, 1942, in Lahore. He belongs to Qatalpur, Khanewal District. His father, Syed Imam Shah AliGarh graduate (1933), served in British Army as Recruiting Officer and was a leading landlord of his area.[9][10] Imam studied at Aitchison College, Lahore, then joined Clifton College, an English public school before turning to study agriculture at the University of California, Davis.[2]

Early career

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From 1968 to 1969, he served in Central Superior Services of the Government of Pakistan to gain an understanding of the bureaucracy; not intending to make it his life's work.[2][9][10] From 1970-1974, he worked in the private sector. In 1975, he served as Honorary Secretary for Board of Control for Cricket in Pakistan.[9][10] He was elected as the Chairman of Punjab Cricket Association from 1976 to 1977.[9][10]

Political career

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In 1980, He began his political career when he was elected as the Chairman District Council, Multan and was appointed as Federal Minister for Local Government and Rural Development in 1981 and resigned as a matter of honor, in December 1983 when he lost his local district council election of Multan District by one vote.[2][11] From 1981 to 1982, Imam served as the Chairman of the Local Government Commission.[10]

Imam served as Chairman of the Sports Committee to promote the spirit of sports among youth and the educational institutions of Pakistan.[12]

In the non-party General Elections in February 1985, he was elected to the National Assembly from Multan District.[13]

11th speaker of National Assembly

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On February 25, 1985, then-president Zia Ul Haq arranged non-party general elections and was confident of getting his favorite speaker, Khawaja Safdar and the father of Khawaja Asif elected to run the House.[14]

On March 22, 1985, by 119 votes to 111 votes, Imam defeated Safdar the chosen candidate for Chief Martial Law Administrator by Zia Ul Haq and Prime Minister Muhammad Khan Junejo,[2][15] what was widely seen as the biggest upset victory.[14]

Two months later, at the conclusion of the budget debate, Imam shocked the assembly when deemed martial law "illegal and without lawful authority" since funds needed to administer it were not reflected in the budget.[2]

On May 26, 1986, Rana Nazir Ahmad moved a no-confidence motion against Imam and 152 Members of the National Assembly voted to remove Imam while he received only 72 votes which resulted in removing him from the office.[14][16] After removing him from office, he served as the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly.[17]

Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research

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President Arif Alvi administered oath to Imam as Federal Minister for National Food Security on April 6, 2020 in a ceremony held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.[18]

Personal life

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Imam is married to Syeda Abida Hussain who served as the Minister of Population Control and Census and Minister of Food and Agriculture in the government of Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan's ambassador to the US from 1991 to 1993. They have three children, Syeda Umme Kulsum, an entrepreneur, and Syeda Sughra Imam and Syed Abid Hussain Imam who are politicians.[19][20]

References

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  1. ^ "Syed Fakhar Imam". Pakistan Herald. Archived from the original on 2020-09-19. Retrieved 2017-07-29.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Syed Fakhar Imam: senior statesman still setting the tone". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  3. ^ Staff Reporter (April 8, 2020). "Fakhar Imam takes oath as Federal Minister". nation.com.pk.
  4. ^ "Speakers / Presidents". na.gov.pk. 2010-02-04. Archived from the original on 2010-02-04. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  5. ^ "Provincial Assembly of the Punjab Secretariat - Lahore - Pakistan" (PDF).
  6. ^ "Speakers / Presidents". National Assembly of Pakistan. Archived from the original on 4 February 2010. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
  7. ^ "Govt to appoint Fakhar Imam as Kashmir Committee chairman - Pakistan Today". www.pakistantoday.com.pk.
  8. ^ "PTI govt decides to nominate Fakhar Imam as PAC chairman". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  9. ^ a b c d Ameen, Irshad (1999). پارليمنٹ بك 97ء. Promedia. ISBN 978-969-8434-00-7.
  10. ^ a b c d e Pakistan Affairs. Information Division, Embassy of Pakistan. 1980.
  11. ^ Pakistan Affairs (Special Independence Day Issue) - Volumes 33-37.
  12. ^ "Pakistan Sports Board" (PDF). sports.gov.pk/.
  13. ^ "7TH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FROM 1985 TO 1988 LIST OF MEMBERS & ADDRESSES" (PDF). na.gov.pk.
  14. ^ a b c "Fakhar Imam was removed after he shocked Zia". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
  15. ^ MUSHTAQ, ABDUL. "ROLE OF OPPOSITION IN CONTROLLING GOVERNMENT POLICIES IN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF PAKISTAN (1985-88)". International Journal of Political Science, Law and International Relations (IJPSLIR).
  16. ^ "Politics of Opposition in Pakistan (1977-88)" (PDF). prr.hec.gov.pk.
  17. ^ Haroon, Asad (2013-03-23). "Former Speaker NA Syed Fakhar Imam joins PML-N". Dispatch news Desk. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
  18. ^ "Fakhar Imam takes oath as Federal Minister". www.nation.com.pk. 8 April 2020.
  19. ^ Tahir, Zulqernain (2021-09-07). "Forget US, get closer to Russia and China: Abida Hussain". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
  20. ^ "'I don't think Mr Modi is politically interested in starting a serious conversation with Pakistan'". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
Political offices
Preceded by Speaker of the National Assembly
1985–1986
Succeeded by
Preceded by Leader of the Opposition
1985–1988
Succeeded by