Shahid Khaqan Abbasi
Encyclopedia
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi (born 27 December 1958 ) is a Pakistani entrepreneur
, electrical engineer, and a politician
. He served as the Federal Minister for Commerce in 2008. Abbasi is the Founder and CEO of Airblue
. He also served as Chairman and CEO of Pakistan International Airlines
from 1997 to 1999.
. He then attended the University of California
, where he obtained the Bachelor of Science
in Electrical Engineering
. He went on to obtain Masters in Electrical Engineering
from George Washington University
, Washington, D.C.
Abbasi worked as a professional engineer
in the United States
and the Middle East during the 1980s.
, where he is a senior leader. He is the son of Air Commodore (retd) Khaqan Abbasi, a prominent businessman turned politician who was a pilot in the Pakistan Air Force
and the Federal Minister for Industries and Production in General Zia-ul-Haq’s cabinet in the 1980s. Khaqan was a serving MNA and Federal Minister in Zia-ul-Haq’s cabinet when he died in the Ojhri Camp
incident in 1988. His son Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has built the Murree
-Kahuta and Kotli Sattian area as their political stronghold, he won the general elections in 1988, 1990, 1993, and 1997, the latest one being in 2008. From 1990 to 1993, he performed his duties as the chairman of National Assembly Standing Committee on Defence.
government, as he was the Chairman of the PIA
, when Musharraf's plane was denied landing at the Jinnah International Airport
, Karachi
on his way back from Sri Lanka
on October 12, 1999. The government put pressure on him to give a testimony against the then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
, but Abbasi refused. He was imprisoned for around two years before being acquitted of all charges in March 2001.
In the 2008 general elections
, Shahid Abbasi was again elected a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan
from the traditional Abbasi constituency of NA-50 Rawalpindi
-I (Murree-Kahuta area). He was then made the Federal Minister of Commerce in the Yousaf Raza Gillani
cabinet.
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
, electrical engineer, and a politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He served as the Federal Minister for Commerce in 2008. Abbasi is the Founder and CEO of Airblue
Airblue
Airblue Limited is a private airline with its head office on the 12th floor of the Islamabad Stock Exchange Towers in Islamabad, Pakistan. It is Pakistan's second largest airline with over 20% share of the domestic market...
. He also served as Chairman and CEO of Pakistan International Airlines
Pakistan International Airlines
Pakistan International Airlines Corporation commonly known as PIA, is the flag carrier airline of Pakistan. The airline has its head office on the grounds of Jinnah International Airport in Karachi. and operates scheduled services to 24 domestic destinations and 38 international destinations in 27...
from 1997 to 1999.
Education
Abbasi got his early education from Lawrence College, MurreeMurree
Murree city is a popular hill station and a summer resort, especially for the residents of Rawalpindi/Islamabad, and for the cities of the province of Punjab, Pakistan...
. He then attended the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
, where he obtained the Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Electrical Engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
. He went on to obtain Masters in Electrical Engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
from George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Abbasi worked as a professional engineer
Professional Engineer
Regulation of the engineering profession is established by various jurisdictions of the world to protect the safety, well-being and other interests of the general public, and to define the licensure process through which an engineer becomes authorized to provide professional services to the...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the Middle East during the 1980s.
Politics in Pakistan
He is politically affiliated with the centre-right party PML-NPakistan Muslim League (N)
The Pakistan Muslim League is a conservative political party in Pakistan, affiliated with Western conservatism...
, where he is a senior leader. He is the son of Air Commodore (retd) Khaqan Abbasi, a prominent businessman turned politician who was a pilot in the Pakistan Air Force
Pakistan Air Force
The Pakistan Air Force is the leading air arm of the Pakistan Armed Forces and is primarily tasked with the aerial defence of Pakistan with a secondary role of providing air support to the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Navy. The PAF also has a tertiary role of providing strategic air transport...
and the Federal Minister for Industries and Production in General Zia-ul-Haq’s cabinet in the 1980s. Khaqan was a serving MNA and Federal Minister in Zia-ul-Haq’s cabinet when he died in the Ojhri Camp
Ojhri Camp
Ojhri Camp is located in Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan. It was used as an ammunition depot for Afghan Mujahideen fighting against Soviet forces from Afghanistan...
incident in 1988. His son Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has built the Murree
Murree
Murree city is a popular hill station and a summer resort, especially for the residents of Rawalpindi/Islamabad, and for the cities of the province of Punjab, Pakistan...
-Kahuta and Kotli Sattian area as their political stronghold, he won the general elections in 1988, 1990, 1993, and 1997, the latest one being in 2008. From 1990 to 1993, he performed his duties as the chairman of National Assembly Standing Committee on Defence.
Imprisoned and Jail
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was imprisoned by the General Pervez MusharrafPervez 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...
government, as he was the Chairman of the PIA
Pakistan International Airlines
Pakistan International Airlines Corporation commonly known as PIA, is the flag carrier airline of Pakistan. The airline has its head office on the grounds of Jinnah International Airport in Karachi. and operates scheduled services to 24 domestic destinations and 38 international destinations in 27...
, when Musharraf's plane was denied landing at the Jinnah International Airport
Jinnah International Airport
Jinnah International Airport is Pakistan's largest international and domestic airport. It is located in Karachi, Pakistan, and its passenger terminal is also commonly known as the جناح ٹرمینل Jinnah Terminal...
, Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
on his way back from Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
on October 12, 1999. The government put pressure on him to give a testimony against the then 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 Abbasi refused. He was imprisoned for around two years before being acquitted of all charges in March 2001.
In the 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...
, Shahid Abbasi was again elected a member of 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...
from the traditional Abbasi constituency of NA-50 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...
-I (Murree-Kahuta area). He was then made the Federal Minister of Commerce in the Yousaf Raza Gillani
Yousaf Raza Gillani
Yousuf Raza Gilani is the current prime minister of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. He was nominated as Prime Minister by the PPP, with the support of its coalition partners, Pakistan Muslim League , Awami National Party, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam and Muttahida Qaumi Movement, on 22 March 2008...
cabinet.