Khawaja Muhammad Asif born August 9, 1949 in Sialkot), is a Pakistani lawmaker and politician of the center-right conservative democratic party PML-N. Khawaja Muhammad Asif previously served as the Pakistani Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, with additional portfolio of Sports Ministry in the PM Yousaf Raza Gillani cabinet. Currently serving as the Member of Parliament of Pakistan, he is renowned for his oratory skills and denunciation of military intervention in the political domain.
Political career
Before getting into politics, Khawaja Asif lived in the UAE for many years, and worked in the Bank of credit and Commerce International. He quit and moved back to Pakistan in 1991, shortly before the death of his father, and took his place in politics, standing from the same constituency and city (Sialkot), and has won every election since 1991. In the 2008 general election, he was elected for the fourth term as a member of the National Assembly on PML-N's ticket. He was previously elected as an MNA for in the years 1993, 1997 and 2002. He also served as a senator during years 1991-1993. In the Nawaz Sharif cabinet of 1997-1999, Khawaja Asif held the portfolio of Chairman Privatization Commission, with the status of a federal minister.
Personal life
Khawaja Asif is the son of Khawaja Muhammad Safdar, an active politician of the Pakistan Movement. A businessman and a banker by profession, he received B.A/L.L.B degrees from University of the Punjab in 1970. Masters in Economics from LSE in 1975. He is married with a son and three daughters. His son Khawaja Muhammad Asad, works at Muslim Commercial Bank (MCB), while the eldest daughter, Atika Safdar Khawaja is married and works as a free lance writer and lives in New York City. The middle daughter, Ameera Safdar Khawaja is studying at Beaconhouse National University, majoring in Journalism, while the youngest daughter, Fatima Safdar Khawaja is studying at The Culinary Institute of America In New York.
Dual nationality case
On 4, June, 2012, the Supreme Court of Pakistan admitted a petition by the registrar's office. The petition stated that Khawaja Muhammad Asif holds dual nationality, and hence, according to Pakistan's constitution, he is not eligible to hold public office in Pakistan. Along with Khawaja Muhammad Asif, the petition included names of 13 other current members of National and Provincial assemblies in Pakistan. However, the court didn't find him guilty in this regard[3] and the petitioner who leveled charges apologized and withdrew from accusations.
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