Raja Mushtaq Ahmed Minhas (Urdu: مُشتاق احمد مِنہاس)(Born 12 August 1970) is a Kashmiri politician who is former minister of Information, Tourism and Culture in the AJK assembly.[1] He is a member of the 8th Legislative Assembly of AJK.
Raja Mushtaq Ahmed Minhas | |
|---|---|
| Occupation(s) | Journalist,Politician |
| Employer | Government of Pakistan |
Career
editEducation
editMushtaq Minhas studied at Govt Boys High School Bagh,Forman Christian College, in Lahore, from where he gained a Bachelor of Arts degree. He was also the vice-president of the Jamaat-e-Islami's students' union Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba. Mushtaq Minhas received Master of Arts degree in Mass Communication from University of Punjab, Lahore, in 1992.[2]
Journalism
editMinhas was a member of the federal executive council of PFUJ (Pakistan Federal Union of Journalist) and a founder of the National Press Club Islamabad. He is also a former president of the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Press Club. However, he was named by a PFUJ investigation committee of swallowing a copy of the PFUJ elections result and causing mayhem.[3]
He has worked with different leading news organisations as a reporter, senior reporter and chief reporter. He was elected as a secretary of Rawalpindi-Islamabad press club for six terms.[4]
Minhas was co-host, along with Nusrat Javed, of Bolta Pakistan, a current affairs political talk show, on AAJ TV. He left the program to join BOL TV, but left shortly afterwards to join politics.
Political career
editMinhas joined the Pakistan Muslim League (N) in March 2016,[5] after which he announced his intention to quit journalism. He was elected Member of the National Assembly from the Bagh LA-14 constituency defeating Sardar Qamer Zaman Khan of PPP.[6] He was appointed as Minister of Information, Tourism and Culture.[7][8]
Controversy
editHis act of posing with a shotgun on Twitter while reacting to the Indian Army Chief created a controversy, particularly since he was a serving minister.[9] His act of swallowing the election results during elections to the journalism body was criticised by an investigation committee of Pakistan Federation of Unions of Journalists (PFUJ), which accused him of causing mayhem.[10]
References
edit- ^ "Members, AJK Legislative Assembly". AJK Legislative Assembly. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
- ^ Surinder Kumar Sharma; Yaqoob ul Hassan; Ashok Behuria (2019). "Pakistan Occupied Kashmir - Politics, Parties and Personalities" (PDF). Pentagon Press LLP. p. 221. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
- ^ "PFUJ's investigation committee asks five journalists not to contest elections in future". The News Pakistan. 13 June 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
- ^ "Profile: Nusrat Javed". Awaz Today. Retrieved 20 August 2013.
- ^ "Mushtaq Minhas joins PML-N". The News, Pakistan. 2 March 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
- ^ "Mushtaq Minhas of PML(N) wins from LA-14 Constituency". Associated Press of Pakistan. 21 July 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
- ^ "Nine Members of AJK Cabinet Sworn In". Khyber News. 6 August 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
- ^ "AJK Tourism and Archaeology". Department of AJK Tourism and Archaeology. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
- ^ "Twitter roasts Pakistan occupied Kashmir minister Mushtaq Minhas for challenging Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane with shotgun". Zee News. 13 January 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
- ^ "17 June 2020". The News, Pakistan. 14 June 2016.