Mowahid Shah
Encyclopedia
Mowahid Hussain Shah is an attorney-at-law, writer, and policy analyst. His articles are published regularly in English in both Nation
(an English daily) and Nawa-i-Waqt
(an Urdu daily). For over a decade, he has been the lead columnist for Pakistan Link, the most subscribed weekly throughout North America for the US Pakistani community.
For over 30 years, Mowahid Shah has studied the interplay between religion and politics. In 1979, he was one of few authors at the time who examined the repercussions of the trial and execution of Pakistan Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, and predicted its ensuing implications, including increasing politicization of Islam in Pakistan; that “using Islamization of law to legitimize their continued power, the army may in the long term govern with a civilian façade”, and that persecution of the Bhutto family would continue with consequent enlargement of the Bhutto myth. His prescient article in the Christian Science Monitor correctly predicted the onset of Western-Muslim world tensions well before Harvard professor Samuel Huntington
popularized the theory of a "clash of civilizations". A few months later, he predicted that “Operation Desert Storm may become a desert trap” that “would radicalize the region for generations.”
. In 1980, Senator Abourezk envisioned and founded the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
(ADC). ADC’s founding director was Dr. James Zogby
. Mowahid Shah played a small role in facilitating the launch of the civil rights organization. He and Dr. Zogby wrote ADC's first publication, "The Other Anti-Semitism" and worked together in researching and analyzing similarities between 19th century anti-Jewish cartoons and modern cartoons offensive to Arabs and Muslims.
From 2003-2007, Mowahid Shah served as Minister and Special Assistant to the Punjab Chief Minister, Pakistan. He played a major role in the creation of Punjab’s first comprehensive consumer protection law. He proposed a 5-point initiative aimed at ensuring that the disabled be treated with dignity, In 2004, he organized the first ever conference at the Chief Minister’s Office focused on respecting and enhancing teachers’ dignity and status.
, he went on to earn his LL.B. from Punjab University Law College. He is the son of Colonel Amjad Hussain Sayed, who is the last surviving delegate, sent by poet-philosopher Allama Iqbal, to the Muslim League session in 1937 in Lucknow, which laid the foundations of the Pakistan Movement
.
As a student leader at George Washington University in the 1970s, Mowahid Shah was Editor of the “Harbinger”, a student publication. He successfully defended in student court a resolution issued by the university's International Student Society in support of international human rights. In his LL.M. thesis, he posited the right under international law of the Palestinian people to resist forcible military occupation.
Mowahid Shah was one of the first Pakistani lawyers admitted to the District of Columbia and U.S. Supreme Court Bars.
Nation
A nation may refer to a community of people who share a common language, culture, ethnicity, descent, and/or history. In this definition, a nation has no physical borders. However, it can also refer to people who share a common territory and government irrespective of their ethnic make-up...
(an English daily) and Nawa-i-Waqt
Nawa-i-Waqt
Nawa-i-Waqt is an Urdu daily newspaper in Pakistan. Nawa-i-Waqt started its publishing on March 23, 1940 under the leadership of Hameed Nizami. The tradition is continued by his brother Majid Nizami. Nawa-i-Waqt is one of the largest circulating newspapers in the country...
(an Urdu daily). For over a decade, he has been the lead columnist for Pakistan Link, the most subscribed weekly throughout North America for the US Pakistani community.
For over 30 years, Mowahid Shah has studied the interplay between religion and politics. In 1979, he was one of few authors at the time who examined the repercussions of the trial and execution of Pakistan Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, and predicted its ensuing implications, including increasing politicization of Islam in Pakistan; that “using Islamization of law to legitimize their continued power, the army may in the long term govern with a civilian façade”, and that persecution of the Bhutto family would continue with consequent enlargement of the Bhutto myth. His prescient article in the Christian Science Monitor correctly predicted the onset of Western-Muslim world tensions well before Harvard professor Samuel Huntington
Samuel Huntington
Samuel Huntington may refer to:* Samuel Huntington , American jurist, statesman, and revolutionary leader* Samuel H. Huntington , American jurist* Samuel P. Huntington , American political scientist...
popularized the theory of a "clash of civilizations". A few months later, he predicted that “Operation Desert Storm may become a desert trap” that “would radicalize the region for generations.”
Career
Mowahid Shah is a former law partner of U.S. Senator James AbourezkJames Abourezk
James George Abourezk is a former Democratic United States Representative and United States Senator, and was the first Arab-American to serve in the United States Senate. He represented South Dakota in the U.S...
. In 1980, Senator Abourezk envisioned and founded the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee states that it is the largest Arab American grassroots civil rights organization in the United States. According to its web page it is open to people of all backgrounds, faiths and ethnicities and has over 40 chapters in 24 states and members in all...
(ADC). ADC’s founding director was Dr. James Zogby
James Zogby
James J. Zogby is the author of Arab Voices and the founder and president of the Arab American Institute , a Washington, D.C.–based organization which serves as a political and policy research arm of the Arab American community. He is a senior analyst with his brother's polling firm, Zogby...
. Mowahid Shah played a small role in facilitating the launch of the civil rights organization. He and Dr. Zogby wrote ADC's first publication, "The Other Anti-Semitism" and worked together in researching and analyzing similarities between 19th century anti-Jewish cartoons and modern cartoons offensive to Arabs and Muslims.
From 2003-2007, Mowahid Shah served as Minister and Special Assistant to the Punjab Chief Minister, Pakistan. He played a major role in the creation of Punjab’s first comprehensive consumer protection law. He proposed a 5-point initiative aimed at ensuring that the disabled be treated with dignity, In 2004, he organized the first ever conference at the Chief Minister’s Office focused on respecting and enhancing teachers’ dignity and status.
Early years
Born in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Mowahid Shah spent part of his boyhood schooling in Jakarta, Indonesia, during the Sukarno era. A student from Forman Christian CollegeForman Christian College
Forman Christian College University, or FCCU, is a chartered university in Lahore, Pakistan, named after its American-born founder, Dr. Charles William Forman.- History :...
, he went on to earn his LL.B. from Punjab University Law College. He is the son of Colonel Amjad Hussain Sayed, who is the last surviving delegate, sent by poet-philosopher Allama Iqbal, to the Muslim League session in 1937 in Lucknow, which laid the foundations of the Pakistan Movement
Pakistan Movement
The Pakistan Movement or Tehrik-e-Pakistan refers to the historical movement to have an independent Muslim state named Pakistan created from the separation of the north-western region of the Indian subcontinent, partitioned within or outside the British Indian Empire. It had its origins in the...
.
As a student leader at George Washington University in the 1970s, Mowahid Shah was Editor of the “Harbinger”, a student publication. He successfully defended in student court a resolution issued by the university's International Student Society in support of international human rights. In his LL.M. thesis, he posited the right under international law of the Palestinian people to resist forcible military occupation.
Mowahid Shah was one of the first Pakistani lawyers admitted to the District of Columbia and U.S. Supreme Court Bars.