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| Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, then Pakistan's interim Prime Minister, sees off U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, after their July 2004 meeting at the Prime Minister's residence in Islamabad, Pakistan. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain (Urdu: چودھری شجاعت حسین; 27 January 1946), is a senior conservative figure and business oligarch[1][2][3] who previously served as the 14th Prime minister of Pakistan from 30 June 2004 until voluntarily stepping down on 28 August 2004, in the favor of Shaukat Aziz.[4] Hussain is the current and incumbent party president of the Pakistan Muslim League (Q).[5][6]
Hailing from the business-industrialist family[7] from the Punjab Province of Pakistan, Hussain educated and graduated from the FC College University and the Punjab University. After his graduation, Hussain subsequently joined the family business comprising large numbers of industries, textiles, agricultural farms, sugar and flour mills.[7] He successfully contested in non-partisan 1985 elections and appointed as minister of ministry of industry in the government of Prime minister Muhammad Junejo, lasting until 1988.[8] Hussain became a wealthy leader and influential conservative figure in Islamic Democratic Alliance (IDA) in 1988-90 and later joining the Pakistan Muslim League (PML) led under Nawaz Sharif in 1993.[8] Hussain served as the 26th Interior minister in the government of Prime minister Nawaz Sharif in two non-consecutive terms from 1990 to 1993 and 1997 to 1999.[8]
Originally a supporter of Nawaz Sharif, Hussain developed serious issues regarding the national economy, Kargil war and left PML after the 1999 coup d'état commenced by chief of army staff and chairman joint chiefs of staff committee general Pervez Musharraf.[9] In 2001, Hussain joined the dissident group of PML on January 2003, and successfully contested in 2002 general elections.[8] He opted for Zafarullah Khan Jamali,[8] supporting Jamali for the Prime minister office bid, but developed political problems that ending his support to Jamali. He took over the Prime minister Secretariat and became 14th Prime minister in 2004.[8] Two months later, Hussain stepped down in order to support Shaukat Aziz for the office of Prime minister.[4] His family also remains influential participant in national politics and his younger cousin Pervez Illahi served as Chief Minister of Punjab from 2002 to 2007. As of current, Hussain and his party remains a major ally of current Prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani and President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan Peoples Party.[10][11]
Origins and education
Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain was born on 27 January 1946 in Gujrat.he was a jatt of waraich clan., Gujrat District of former British Indian Empire.[2] His ancestors[2] hailing from rural Gujrat and had no initial political background.[2][12] His father, Zahoor Elahi was a junior constable in Punjab Police but quit the police service in order to establish a cotton mill. His family lost a cotton mill as a result of Indian partition but re-established the mill in Gujrat after the establishment of Pakistan in 1947.[2] His father first contested in 1954 elections and elected a local union Councillor of the Gujrat District. After attending public schools in Gujrat, Hussain matriculated, and was accepted at the Forman Christian College University.[2][12] In 1962, Hussain attended the Forman Christian College University and graduated with Bachelor of Business Administration in 1965 and enrolled in master's programme of University of Punjab in 1965. In 1967, Hussain gained MA in Industrial management, and forwarded to United Kingdom to continue his studies.[12]
Upon returning to Pakistan, Hussain joined the family industrial conglomerate comprising industrial units in textiles, sugar, flour milling and agricultural farms in 1969.[13] By this time, Hussain's family had become a potent industrial oligarchs and had significant influence on Presidents Ayub Khan and General Yahya Khan.[2][12]
Career in national politics
Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain entered in the national politics after the assassination of his father, and emerged with the Pakistan Muslim League rooted from Punjab Province.[14] After participating in a local-body elections, Hussain became a Member of the Parliament in 1981 and, subsequently joining the Punjab government's Financial department.[14] He participated and campaign successfully in non-partisan 1985 general elections for an industrial seat, although he maintains ties with PML.[14] His contest in the general election from Gujrat included for both seats for the National Assembly and provincial Punjab Assembly.[14] After the elections he had to vacate his Punjab Assembly seat in favour of the National Assembly seat.[14]
He was inherited the power mantle by his father and became a crucial power broker in the far-right regime of chief of army staff and president general Zia-ul-Haq.[15] Hussain benefited with general Zia's economic policies, along with Sharif, prospered well enough.[15] Hussain invest a large sum of money in industrial firms, notably associated with defence production and mills, and bought industrial Stocks at Karachi Stock Exchange, which benefited him and his assets at an increasing level of wealth.[15]
After participating in 1985 general elections, Hussain joined the government of Prime Minister Muhammad Khan Junejo as the minister of the Ministry of Industry,[8] and held additional ministerial portfolio of Ministry of Information and Mass-media Broadcasting in 1986;[8] and Ministry of Defence Production in 1987-88.[8]
Interior ministry
Hussain was the leading member of right-wing alliance, the Islamic Democratic Alliance (IDA) and successfully endorsed his parliamentary seat during the first party 1988 general elections, and headed the Parliamentary Party of Joint Opposition (PPJO) in the National Assembly from 1988 to 1990.[8] He also acted as the parliamentary party leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-
Prime minister of Pakistan
Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain endorsed and provided his vital support to appoint his lifelong friend Zafarullah Khan Jamali as country's first Baloch prime minister. Previously, he also played a vital role in bringing the role of Shaukat Aziz in national politics. However, in 2004, Jamali lost his trust and his relations with the prime minister soured that subsequently ended in resignation of Jamali[16]
After Jamali's resignation, Shujaat Husain nominated Economic minister Shaukat Aziz for the office of Prime minister Shujaat temporarily took over the office of Primeminister, but due to member of Senate Aziz had been unable to be elected.[16] The media noted that Hussain was probably only warming the seat for Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz who would wait to get elected to the National Assembly, although he was a member of the Upper House and for that reason, barred from prime ministerial ship according to Constitution, before taking up the post.[16]
At the Parliament, Hussain told the media journalists that his election to the National Assembly and later as the Prime Minister was "not an interim appointment" but in keeping with the Constitution.[4] In an interview, Shujaat Hussain quoted: "My nomination by Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali and nomination of Shaukat Aziz after consulting the President were in line with the set traditions. There should be no hue and cry over such technicalities.".[4]
On 23 August 2004, Hussain transfer and handed over the office of prime minister to Shaukat Aziz after successfully being elected from his constituency, though Hussain remains the party president of the Pakistan Muslim League (Q).[18]
Personal life
Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain is the eldest son of Chaudhry Zahoor Ilahi, and has been connected with the families of past military dictators, including Ayub Khan, Yahya Khan and general Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq.[19] His younger cousin, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, previously served as the chief minister of Punjab and currently is a senior member of current government.[20] His younger brother, Chaudhry Wajahat Hussain, is also senior member of the current government.[21]
Honors
Hussain had been a strong and vocal supporter of Pakistan's bilateral relations with South Korea.[22] He has been a major source of bringing the South Korea investment in the country and has been successfully called for South-Korean model of economy in the country.[22] For his efforts, the South Korean government has named an "Honorary Consul General" after his name in the Republic of Korea in 1981.[22] Hussain is also a recipient of South Korea's highest diplomatic award Order of the Diplomatic Service Merit "Ueung-in-Metal" for distinguished services in promoting mutual relations between Pakistan and Republic of Korea.[22]
Wealth and personal assets
Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain is one of the accounted richest and most powerful business personalities in Pakistan.[23] Hussain is noted as one of the wealthiest investor in defence production, military technological development, and industrial mills.[24] His chain of industries in large numbers of defense production industries, textiles, agricultural farms, sugar and flour mills.[24] In 2012, Hussain agreed to declare half of his personal assets to Election Commission, and made it public domain. According to the statements of assets and liabilities for 2010–2011, 50% of Hussain's share in two residential houses located in Islamabad and Lahore worth ₨. 5.2million and ₨.3.4 million, respectively (although he did not issued the current value).[24] Hussain also owns a 78-acre of agricultural land worth ₨. 376,667 and 12.5 acres worth ₨. 4.5 million.[25] He has stock shares worth ₨. 10.4 million and ₨. 53.90 million cash in his account.[25]
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