Shaikh Rasheed Ahmad
Encyclopedia
Sheikh Rashid Ahmed is a Pakistan
i politician
and writer
. He served as the Federal Minister for Railways in Pakistan from 2006 to 2008. His previous portfolio have included appointments as Federal Minister for Labor and Manpower, Information and Broadcasting, Industries, Sports Culture, and Tourism and Investment. He formed his own political party Awami Muslim League Pakistan in 2008.
. His father was from Srinagar
, Kashmir
while mother was from Amritsar
. In 1947 his parents migrated from Srinagar and settled in Rawalpindi. They established business in silk.
Rashid got his initial education from Christian High school Rawalpindi. He studied at Rawalpindi Polytechnic College and later at Gordon College
. He completed his Bachelor of Laws
at the University of Lahore
. Throughout his education, Rashid was very active in student politics. On November 7, 1968 he organized movement against Ayub regime in which one student Hameed Shaheed sacrificed his life. Rashid was among three student who were barred from getting admission in any educational institution.
Later he got admission in Gordon College Rawalpindi and took active part in student politics. He emerged as a successful student leader and was elected in Student Union as Joint Secretary, Secretary, Vice President and President during four years respectively. He graduated from Gordon College
and passed his M.A
examination from Shahpur Jail. He completed his L.L.B from Lahore
. He became Managing Director of Gulmerg Company, which was doing business in silk
and silk yarn.
Later, he became the leader of Opposition in the Municipal Corporation Rawalpindi. He was first elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan
in 1985 general elections as an independent candidate, and was subsequently re-elected MNA for six times. During October 2002 elections he was elected from two seats and established a new record in politics of Pakistan. He is among only few politicians who have been elected MNAs six time consecutively.
He used to be the right-hand man of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
but Nawaz Sharif left him and then he joined the newly formed Muslim League
. He is hugely popular in Rawalpindi and is known for creating a large number of schools in that city. He is famous for his "awami style" (public style) of politics. He is one of few politicians who started their political career at grass roots level and rose to prominence. He has spent overall five years in solitary confinement for the cause of democracy. He was awarded seven years rigorous imprisonment in Kalashnikov case and spent two years in New Central Jail Bahawalpur
.
On October 2, 2007, Gen. Pervez Musharraf
named Lt. Gen. Ashfaq Kayani, as vice chief of the army starting October 8. If Musharraf wins the presidency and resigns his military post, Kayani will be army chief. Meanwhile, Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed stated that officials agreed to grant Benazir Bhutto
amnesty
versus pending corruption charges.
In the February 2008 general elections
, Sheikh Rashid lost both of his Rawalpindi
constituencies, NA-55 and NA-56. After his defeat, there were rumors that Sheikh Rashid had fled to Spain
, however, these allegations were later discovered to be false. In June 2008, he announced formation of new political party, Awami Muslim League
.
Sheikh Rashid contested by poll elections held on 24 February 2010. He lost the contest to PML-N candidate Malik Shakeel Awan. Sheikh Rashid worked very hard for the election but he only managed to secure second spot.
During his career, He has served as Federal Minister for Labour and Manpower, Information, Industries, Sports, Culture, and Tourism and Investment. He was appointed Federal Minister for Railways in May 2006 and served in that capacity until 2008. His contemporary politics is as a staunch supporter of "enlightened moderation
".
- capital of the Indian administered Kashmir and is known for his support to the anti-India uprising in Jammu and Kashmir. He shot into prominence when Indian Government denied him permission to visit New Delhi in 2004 fall, after a Kashmiri separatist Yasin Malik
said that his residence and farm house has been used by militant organizations. He has a dream to visit Srinagar to offer prayers at the graves of his forefathers.
He is not married and lives in Lal Haveli
in the heart of Rawalpindi
. Lal Haveli has become a tourist destination due to its beautiful, ancient architecture.
He has been organizing a big public meeting on the eve of 14 August (independence day of Pakistan
) at his residence Lal Haveli and the firework show is extremely popular among the people of the city and hundreds of people turn to watch this show every year.He is regularly invited on various political and showbiz shows.
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
i politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
. He served as the Federal Minister for Railways in Pakistan from 2006 to 2008. His previous portfolio have included appointments as Federal Minister for Labor and Manpower, Information and Broadcasting, Industries, Sports Culture, and Tourism and Investment. He formed his own political party Awami Muslim League Pakistan in 2008.
Early life and education
Sheikh Rashid Ahmed was born in Bhabra Bazar, RawalpindiRawalpindi
Rawalpindi , locally known as Pindi, is a city in the Pothohar region of Pakistan near Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad, in the province of Punjab. Rawalpindi is the fourth largest city in Pakistan after Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad...
. His father was from Srinagar
Srinagar
Srinagar is the summer seasonal capital of Jammu and Kashmir. It is situated in Kashmir Valley and lies on the banks of the Jhelum River, a tributary of the Indus. It is one of the largest cities in India not to have a Hindu majority. The city is famous for its gardens, lakes and houseboats...
, Kashmir
Kashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
while mother was from Amritsar
Amritsar
Amritsar is a city in the northern part of India and is the administrative headquarters of Amritsar district in the state of Punjab, India. The 2001 Indian census reported the population of the city to be over 1,500,000, with that of the entire district numbering 3,695,077...
. In 1947 his parents migrated from Srinagar and settled in Rawalpindi. They established business in silk.
Rashid got his initial education from Christian High school Rawalpindi. He studied at Rawalpindi Polytechnic College and later at Gordon College
Gordon College (Rawalpindi)
Gordon College Rawalpindi is a college in Rawalpindi, Pakistan that was established as a school in 1893.Gordon's college year is made up of annual system: in which the examination are held once every year. Enrollment at Gordon College is in thousands of students, with around hundreds living on campus...
. He completed his Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
at the University of Lahore
University of Lahore
The University Of Lahore was established in 1999 as a private university by the Ibadat Educational Trust. It is accredited by the Pakistan Engineering Council , Pakistan Medical and Dental Council and Pharmacy Council of Pakistan...
. Throughout his education, Rashid was very active in student politics. On November 7, 1968 he organized movement against Ayub regime in which one student Hameed Shaheed sacrificed his life. Rashid was among three student who were barred from getting admission in any educational institution.
Later he got admission in Gordon College Rawalpindi and took active part in student politics. He emerged as a successful student leader and was elected in Student Union as Joint Secretary, Secretary, Vice President and President during four years respectively. He graduated from Gordon College
Gordon College
Gordon College may refer to:* Gordon College , a public college in Barnesville, Georgia* Gordon College , a Christian college in Wenham, Massachusetts* Gordon College , a Christian college in Rawalpindi, Pakistan...
and passed his M.A
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
examination from Shahpur Jail. He completed his L.L.B from Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
. He became Managing Director of Gulmerg Company, which was doing business in silk
Silk
Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity...
and silk yarn.
Political career
His political career began on the village platform where he woud try to garner support from the local population alongside other speakers. Sheikh Rashid and his contemporaries would often fail at this attempt and it has been said that they were not well liked in the villages for not understanding the basic problems.Later, he became the leader of Opposition in the Municipal Corporation Rawalpindi. He was first elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan
National Assembly of Pakistan
The National Assembly of Pakistan is the lower house of the bicameral Majlis-e-Shura, which also compromises the President of Pakistan and Senate . The National Assembly and the Senate both convene at Parliament House in Islamabad...
in 1985 general elections as an independent candidate, and was subsequently re-elected MNA for six times. During October 2002 elections he was elected from two seats and established a new record in politics of Pakistan. He is among only few politicians who have been elected MNAs six time consecutively.
He used to be the right-hand man of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
Nawaz Sharif
Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif is a Pakistani conservative politician and steel magnate who served as 12th Prime Minister of Pakistan in two non-consecutive terms from November 1990 to July 1993, and from February 1997 to October 12, 1999...
but Nawaz Sharif left him and then he joined the newly formed Muslim League
Pakistan Muslim League (Q)
The Pakistan Muslim League or officially Pakistan Muslim League is a centrist, modern political party in Pakistan. The present form of PML-Q was formed prior to 2002 general elections....
. He is hugely popular in Rawalpindi and is known for creating a large number of schools in that city. He is famous for his "awami style" (public style) of politics. He is one of few politicians who started their political career at grass roots level and rose to prominence. He has spent overall five years in solitary confinement for the cause of democracy. He was awarded seven years rigorous imprisonment in Kalashnikov case and spent two years in New Central Jail Bahawalpur
New Central Jail Bahawalpur
New Central Jail Bahawalpur is a jail in Bahawalpur, Pakistan located on Jail Road nearly one kilometer toward east of the . In September 2006, four members of the same family, including one father, his two sons and one brother, were hanged to death in this jail...
.
On October 2, 2007, Gen. Pervez Musharraf
Pervez Musharraf
Pervez Musharraf , is a retired four-star general who served as the 13th Chief of Army Staff and tenth President of Pakistan as well as tenth Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. Musharraf headed and led an administrative military government from October 1999 till August 2007. He ruled...
named Lt. Gen. Ashfaq Kayani, as vice chief of the army starting October 8. If Musharraf wins the presidency and resigns his military post, Kayani will be army chief. Meanwhile, Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed stated that officials agreed to grant Benazir Bhutto
Benazir Bhutto
Benazir Bhutto was a democratic socialist who served as the 11th Prime Minister of Pakistan in two non-consecutive terms from 1988 until 1990 and 1993 until 1996....
amnesty
Amnesty
Amnesty is a legislative or executive act by which a state restores those who may have been guilty of an offense against it to the positions of innocent people, without changing the laws defining the offense. It includes more than pardon, in as much as it obliterates all legal remembrance of the...
versus pending corruption charges.
In the February 2008 general elections
Pakistani general election, 2008
A general election was held in Pakistan on 18 February 2008, after being postponed from 8 January 2008. The original date was intended to elect members of the National Assembly of Pakistan, the lower house of the Majlis-e-Shoora...
, Sheikh Rashid lost both of his Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi , locally known as Pindi, is a city in the Pothohar region of Pakistan near Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad, in the province of Punjab. Rawalpindi is the fourth largest city in Pakistan after Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad...
constituencies, NA-55 and NA-56. After his defeat, there were rumors that Sheikh Rashid had fled to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, however, these allegations were later discovered to be false. In June 2008, he announced formation of new political party, Awami Muslim League
Awami Muslim League
Awami Muslim League Pakistan is a Pakistani political party formed in June 2008 by Shaikh Rasheed Ahmad.- NA-55 :This is a national assembly seat fought by Sheikh Rashid Ahmed of the Awami Muslim League Pakistan on February 24, 2010 but lost by a margin of more than 28000 votes...
.
Sheikh Rashid contested by poll elections held on 24 February 2010. He lost the contest to PML-N candidate Malik Shakeel Awan. Sheikh Rashid worked very hard for the election but he only managed to secure second spot.
During his career, He has served as Federal Minister for Labour and Manpower, Information, Industries, Sports, Culture, and Tourism and Investment. He was appointed Federal Minister for Railways in May 2006 and served in that capacity until 2008. His contemporary politics is as a staunch supporter of "enlightened moderation
Enlightened moderation
Enlightened moderation, is a term coined by former President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf, which applies to practicing Islam moderately, as opposed to practicing fundamentalist version of Islam...
".
Armed Attack
On February 8, 2010, Sheikh Rashid was injured, and three other people known to be his bodyguards were killed, when gunmen opened fire at his vehicle outside his party’s election office in Rawalpindi.Links with Kashmir
Rashid Ahmed has his roots in SrinagarSrinagar
Srinagar is the summer seasonal capital of Jammu and Kashmir. It is situated in Kashmir Valley and lies on the banks of the Jhelum River, a tributary of the Indus. It is one of the largest cities in India not to have a Hindu majority. The city is famous for its gardens, lakes and houseboats...
- capital of the Indian administered Kashmir and is known for his support to the anti-India uprising in Jammu and Kashmir. He shot into prominence when Indian Government denied him permission to visit New Delhi in 2004 fall, after a Kashmiri separatist Yasin Malik
Yasin Malik
Yasin Malik is the chairman of one of the two factions of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front, the chairman for other faction is Farooq Siddiqi . The Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front , founded by Amanullah Khan and Maqbool Bhat, is a Kashmiri nationalist organization founded in Birmingham, UK on May 29,...
said that his residence and farm house has been used by militant organizations. He has a dream to visit Srinagar to offer prayers at the graves of his forefathers.
Books
He is the author of the book Farzand-e-Pakistan, and is currently working on another book, Sub Achha Hai which is in the final stage of its publication.Personal life
Lal Haveli
The Lal Haveli , is a famous Haveli as well as the political centre for the Pakistani politician Sheikh Rashid Ahmad. It is located in the central part of old Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan....
in the heart of Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi , locally known as Pindi, is a city in the Pothohar region of Pakistan near Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad, in the province of Punjab. Rawalpindi is the fourth largest city in Pakistan after Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad...
. Lal Haveli has become a tourist destination due to its beautiful, ancient architecture.
He has been organizing a big public meeting on the eve of 14 August (independence day of Pakistan
Independence Day (Pakistan)
Pakistan's independence day is observed on 14 August, the day before Pakistan was made an independent country based on border lines created by the British during the end of their rule of India. Pakistan became an independent country in 1947. The day is a national holiday in Pakistan...
) at his residence Lal Haveli and the firework show is extremely popular among the people of the city and hundreds of people turn to watch this show every year.He is regularly invited on various political and showbiz shows.
External links
- Awami Muslim League Pakistan Website Accessed 2010-1-20.
- Profile of the Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Government website. Accessed 2005-10-21.