Farooq Leghari
Encyclopedia
Sardar Farooq Ahmad Khan Leghari (Punjabi
) (May 29, 1940 – October 20, 2010) was the eighth President of Pakistan
from November 14, 1993 until December 2, 1997. He was the first Balouch President of Pakistan.
, a village of Dera Ghazi Khan District
, Punjab
on May 29, 1940 during the British Raj
and died on October 20, 2010 due to a cardiac arrest. He was born into a political family that has been active in politics in that part of the world since the pre-colonial days. His father Sardar Muhammad Khan Leghari and Grandfather Nawab Muhmammad Jamal Khan Leghari had both been ministers in the Government. Leghari was the major landowner in the area and owned approximately 2500 acres (10.1 km²) of land. After the death of Sardar Farooq Khan Leghari his son Sardar Jamal Khan Leghari became the 23rd Chief of Leghari tribe.
, Lahore (where he was the Head Boy and was declared the Best Leaving Student of 1957) Leghari graduated with honours from the famous institute of Forman Christian College University, Lahore
, Punjab (Pakistan)
where again he was among the best students. From there he went on to study Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) at Oxford University, [Great Britain]].
After returning to Pakistan he joined the Civil Service and served for some time in East Pakistan
(now Bangladesh
). On the death of his father he resigned from the service and came back from East Pakistan to look after the affairs of his tribe. He was the head (Sardar
) of the Leghari
tribe.
, and was made leader of the party upon the imprisonment of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. He was put under house-arrest several times during the military regime of General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq
.
. In November 1996, utilizing his powers under Article 58 2(b) of the Constitution of Pakistan, he dismissed the Peoples' Party Government of Benazir Bhutto
on charges of corruption, lawlessness and extra judicial killings.
Following the word of the Constitution of Pakistan
he held elections for the National Assembly in 1997. The elections were won by the Pakistan Muslim League
and Nawaz Sharif
was elected Prime Minister. A decisive majority in the lower house of parliament led the Sharif Government to remove the controversial 8th amendment from the constitution of Pakistan. Farooq Leghari resigned due to differences with the next Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif and so was unable to complete his 5-year term as President of Pakistan.
, which entered into a coalition of seven parties, known as the National Alliance
, to participate in the general elections of 2002. The National Alliance, emerged as the 3rd largest group in the parliament and won 13 seats in the National Assembly. He entered in a coalition with the majority party to form the government. Thereafter his son Awais Leghari
was made a federal minister for Telecom and IT and another of his deputies Yar Mohammad Rind also was made a member in the Federal cabinet. Later Mohammad Ali Durrani and his niece Sumaira Malik
from his party were also inducted into the Federal Cabinet.
in May 2004 to form united Pakistan Muslim League, Farooq Leghari also became the member of the newly constituted party, with his son Awais Leghari being one of its senior vice presidents.
His elder son Jamal Leghari has recently been elected to the Senate of Pakistan
. His daughter Faryal Leghari is an analyst and researcher in Security & Terrorism Studies at the Gulf Research Center in Dubai.
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Punjabi language
Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...
) (May 29, 1940 – October 20, 2010) was the eighth President of Pakistan
President of Pakistan
The President of Pakistan is the head of state, as well as figurehead, of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Recently passed an XVIII Amendment , Pakistan has a parliamentary democratic system of government. According to the Constitution, the President is chosen by the Electoral College to serve a...
from November 14, 1993 until December 2, 1997. He was the first Balouch President of Pakistan.
Early life
Sardar Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari was born in Choti ZareenChoti zareen
Choti Zareen is the ancestral town of the Balochi Aliani clan of the well-known Leghari tribe. It is located in the Dera Ghazi Khan District of Southern Punjab, Pakistan....
, a village of Dera Ghazi Khan District
Dera Ghazi Khan District
Dera Ghazi Khan is a district in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The district covers an area of 5,306 m² and it is a long narrow strip of country, 198 m...
, Punjab
Punjab (British India)
Punjab was a province of British India, it was one of the last areas of the Indian subcontinent to fall under British rule. With the end of British rule in 1947 the province was split between West Punjab, which went to Pakistan, and East Punjab, which went to India...
on May 29, 1940 during the British Raj
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
and died on October 20, 2010 due to a cardiac arrest. He was born into a political family that has been active in politics in that part of the world since the pre-colonial days. His father Sardar Muhammad Khan Leghari and Grandfather Nawab Muhmammad Jamal Khan Leghari had both been ministers in the Government. Leghari was the major landowner in the area and owned approximately 2500 acres (10.1 km²) of land. After the death of Sardar Farooq Khan Leghari his son Sardar Jamal Khan Leghari became the 23rd Chief of Leghari tribe.
Education
After his initial schooling at Aitchison CollegeAitchison College
Aitchison College, Lahore, is one of the most prestigious educational institutions of its kind in South Asia. Established in 1886, it has retained its character over the years, maintaining the public school tradition of providing an education that uses academics, sports and co-curricular activities...
, Lahore (where he was the Head Boy and was declared the Best Leaving Student of 1957) Leghari graduated with honours from the famous institute of Forman Christian College University, 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...
, Punjab (Pakistan)
Punjab (Pakistan)
Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population. Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the...
where again he was among the best students. From there he went on to study Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) at Oxford University, [Great Britain]].
After returning to Pakistan he joined the Civil Service and served for some time in East Pakistan
East Pakistan
East Pakistan was a provincial state of Pakistan established in 14 August 1947. The provincial state existed until its declaration of independence on 26 March 1971 as the independent nation of Bangladesh. Pakistan recognized the new nation on 16 December 1971. East Pakistan was created from Bengal...
(now Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
). On the death of his father he resigned from the service and came back from East Pakistan to look after the affairs of his tribe. He was the head (Sardar
Sardar
Sardar is a title of Indo-Aryan origin that was originally used to denote feudal princes, noblemen, and other aristocrats. It was later applied to indicate a Head of State, a Commander-in-chief, and an Army military rank...
) of the Leghari
Leghari
The Leghari , or Laghari) are a Baloch tribe living in Balochistan, Sindh and Punjab provinces of Pakistan. The Leghari Baloch primarily speak the Seraiki, Sindhi, and Balochi language, and are largely Sunni Muslims....
tribe.
Pakistan Peoples Party
He joined the Pakistan Peoples PartyPakistan Peoples Party
The Pakistan Peoples Party , is a democratic socialist political party in Pakistan affiliated with Socialist International. Pakistan People's Party is the largest political party of Pakistan...
, and was made leader of the party upon the imprisonment of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. He was put under house-arrest several times during the military regime of General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq
Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq
General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq , was the 4th Chief Martial Law Administrator and the sixth President of Pakistan from July 1977 to his death in August 1988...
.
President of Pakistan
In 1993, with the express support of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Leghari ran for the office of President and won the election against Wasim SajjadWasim Sajjad
Wasim Sajjad was interim President of Pakistan on two occasions, serving as interim President prior to elections. Currently, being a member of PML-Q, he is the Leader of the Opposition in Senate of Pakistan.- Early life :...
. In November 1996, utilizing his powers under Article 58 2(b) of the Constitution of Pakistan, he dismissed the Peoples' Party Government of 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....
on charges of corruption, lawlessness and extra judicial killings.
Following the word of the Constitution of Pakistan
Constitution of Pakistan
The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is the supreme law of Pakistan. Known as the Constitution of 1973, it was drafted by the government of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and, following additions by the opposition parties, was approved by the legislative assembly on April 10, 1973...
he held elections for the National Assembly in 1997. The elections were won by the Pakistan Muslim League
Pakistan Muslim League
The Pakistan Muslim League was founded in 1962, as a successor to the previously disbanded Muslim League in Pakistan. Unlike the original PML which ended in 1958 when General Ayub Khan banned all political parties, each subsequent Muslim League was in some way propped by the military dictators of...
and 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...
was elected Prime Minister. A decisive majority in the lower house of parliament led the Sharif Government to remove the controversial 8th amendment from the constitution of Pakistan. Farooq Leghari resigned due to differences with the next Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif and so was unable to complete his 5-year term as President of Pakistan.
Formation of Millat Party and coalition with PML-Q
Instead of retiring from politics, he went on to create his own political party, the Millat PartyMillat Party
The Millat Party was a political party in Pakistan, formed by Sardar Farooq Ahmad Khan Leghari, former president of Pakistan, once he was no longer the president, and needed a platform to survive politically. He had the money to start a small-scale party. Because of his support to the...
, which entered into a coalition of seven parties, known as the National Alliance
National Alliance (Pakistan)
The National Alliance was a coalition of Millat Party, Sindh Democratic Alliance, National Peoples Party, and Sindh National Front in Pakistan. It was headed by former Pakistani Prime Minister Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi, who was also the head of his own National Peoples Party .At the 2002 legislative...
, to participate in the general elections of 2002. The National Alliance, emerged as the 3rd largest group in the parliament and won 13 seats in the National Assembly. He entered in a coalition with the majority party to form the government. Thereafter his son Awais Leghari
Awais Leghari
Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari , or Owais Leghari, is the former Federal Minister for Information Technology of the Government of Pakistan. Leghari comes from a feudal political family of Dera Ghazi Khan, Punjab. He is the son of Farooq Leghari former President of Pakistan...
was made a federal minister for Telecom and IT and another of his deputies Yar Mohammad Rind also was made a member in the Federal cabinet. Later Mohammad Ali Durrani and his niece Sumaira Malik
Sumaira Malik
Sumaira Malik is a politician from Khushab District, Punjab, Pakistan.Sumaira Malik is a member of Pakistan's National Assembly. She is the daughter of Malik AllahYar Khan and the granddaughter of Amir Mohammad Khan, The Nawab of KalaBagh...
from his party were also inducted into the Federal Cabinet.
Part of ruling Pakistan Muslim League (Q)
With National Alliance being merged with the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (Q)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....
in May 2004 to form united Pakistan Muslim League, Farooq Leghari also became the member of the newly constituted party, with his son Awais Leghari being one of its senior vice presidents.
His elder son Jamal Leghari has recently been elected to the Senate of Pakistan
Senate of Pakistan
The Senate of Pakistan is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Pakistan. Elections are held every three years for one half of the senate and each senator has a term of six years...
. His daughter Faryal Leghari is an analyst and researcher in Security & Terrorism Studies at the Gulf Research Center in Dubai.
Death
Leghari died on October 20, 2010 in Rawalpindi due to a heart related illness. He was undergoing surgery at the Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi at the time of his death. Initial reports claimed that he was ill for sometime, owing to complications with his heart.External links
- http://www.jinnahsequaid.com/7983/former-president-farooq-laghari-passes-away/
- US Department of State----Pakistan Country Report on Human Rights Practices for 1996 under Leghari/Benazir Government
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