Makhdoom Muhammad Javed Hashmi

Makhdoom Muhammad Javed Hashmi is a senior and influential conservative figure and geostrategist who is currently presiding the Pakistan Movement of Justice (PTI) after his appointment was approved by the sportsman-turned statesman Imran Khan.

Originally a leading and senior member of Pakistan Muslim League (PML), Hashmi briefly started his statesmanship from the ministry of health and the ministry of youth affairs in both first and second government of former Prime minister Nawaz Sharif. After being dismissed in 1999 in a coup d'état staged by General Pervez Musharraf against Nawaz Sharif, Hashmi was appointed party president of the PML and led the PML in the 2002 general elections, which saw the landslide defeat of the PML. In 2003, Hashmi was arrested and faced a trial on charges of treason in the Central Jail Rawalpindi after making controversial statements against Pakistan Armed Forces, and was released on 4 August 2007.

In the 2008 general elections, Javed Hashmi won a record three seats out of the four contested; he only lost out to Shah Mehmood Qureshi in his home city of Multan. Hashmi won National Assembly seats from Multan, Lahore and Rawalpindi beating PML-Q leader Shaikh Rasheed Ahmad in the latter one.[1] On 20 July 2010 Javed Hashmi suffered from Brain hemorrhage and was admitted to hospital. After recovering, he served as the Chairman of the Standing Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs and but resigned after falling out with Nawaz Sharif on various political issues. He would later ascended to join the Pakistan Movement of Justice led by Imran Khan as the appointment party president.

Early career

An agriculturist and intellectual by profession, Hashmi attended Punjab University where he was part of the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami and was once accused of murder of a fellow student but was rulled not guilty by court. He took his B.Sc. in Political Science in 1969, followed by M.Sc. in 1971, and M.Phil. in 1973, in the same academic discipline from the same institution. The then Prime Minister Z.A Bhutto offered him to be High Commissioner of Pakistan in United Kingdom(UK)and in return give up agitation against the ruling PPP but he did not budge from his stance.

He turned to politics in 1985 and joined hands with Nawaz Sharif — who later became Prime minister.  From 1985 till 1988, he was elected to the National Assembly for the terms of 1985 till 1988. From 1990 till 1993, Hashmi was the Minister of State for Youth Affairs, and elected as Parliamentarian for the terms of 1993-1997.[2] From 1997-1999, he served as Federal Minister for Health in Nawaz Sharif's cabinet during his second term. He was alleged for being involved in Mehran Bank Scandal along with other political heavyweights like Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif and few more main stream politicians of that time. Allegations on Makhdoom Javed Hashmi were laid by Yousaf Advocate who had an old business conflict with Hashmi family, he alleged Hashmi's involvement in the scandal but Younas Habib who was the main character and distributed all the funds never alleged Makhdoom Javed Hashmi. Makhdoom Javed Hashmi very strongly rejected the allegations and demanded a judicial probe of the scandal involving all the top political leadership of that time. During Musharraf era,PML(Q) was in dire need of MNAs to form a coalition government, so their delegation led by Ch. shujaat went on to see him and offered him to be part of PML(Q)but Hashmi Refused to support Pervez Musharraf. For this act he had to suffer the wrath of the then president Gen. Musharraf and he remained behind the bars for 5 years. During prison days he wrote two books about his political struggle which are named as "HAAN MEIN BAGHI HUN"(yes,I am a rebel)& "TAKHTAEY E DAAR K SAAEY TALAY". .He served in united nations for some times as well.[2] These days he is serving as President Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf.

Arrest

On 29 October 2003, he was arrested from Parliament Building on charges of inciting mutiny made by General Pervez Musharraf. Earlier, in a press conference on 20 October 2003, he had read a letter that he received in mail, signed anonymously by some active military officers at Pakistan Army's Combatant Headquarter, known as The Generals Headquarter (GHQ), calling for an investigation into the corruption in the armed forces and criticizing the President and Chief of Army Staff General Pervez Musharraf, and his relationship with the American President George W. Bush. His trial was held in the central Adiala Jail instead of a district and sessions court at the Lahore High Court, which raised doubts among human rights groups about its fairness. On 12 April 2004, he was sentenced to 23 years in prison for inciting mutiny in the army, forgery, and defamation. 

The verdict has widely been considered as a willful miscarriage of justice by the General Pervez Musharraf's Government. All opposition parties in Pakistan, including Pakistan Peoples Party of the former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and six party-alliance Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), regarded the verdict to be politically motivated by the ruling junta with malicious intent, declaring him to be a political prisoner.[3] In imprisonment he also wrote two books titled as "Haan, Main Baaghi Hoon!" (Yes, I am a 'Rebel!') and "takhta daar ke saaye tale" (Under the shadow of Hanging board). His book, "Yes, I am a 'Rebel'!", Hashmi clearly stated that he was jailed because he demanded a commission to be formed to investigate the Kargil issue, the restoration of democracy and opposed the Army’s role in politics, and Pakistan's geostrategy policy in central Asia and Europe. 

On 3 August 2007, a three-member bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan under Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry granted him bail after serving approximately three and a half years in prison. Javed Hashmi was released from the Central Jail Kotlakhpat in Lahore on 4 August 2007. 

He was again placed under arrest at the declaration of a state of emergency on 3 November 2007 

2008 elections

It is believed that Hashmi was personally asked by party chairman Nawaz Sharif to contest from Rawalpindi for the National Assembly seat, where Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed of the PML[Q] was undefeated since 1988. Makhdoom Javed Hashmi as a result won three National Assembly seats, one from Rawalpindi, one from Punjab Capital Lahore and one from his hometown Multan which where all Muslims League's strongholds. Hashmi beat PML-Q's political stalwart Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed in Rawalpindi, the same Sheikh who would later on be defeated by two PML-N candidates, Hanif Abbasi and Malik Shakeel Awan. Hashmi's that time group the PML-N dominated the national and provincial assembly in Punjab. They finished second behind the PPP and made a coalition with its one time fierce rivals.

After 2008 elections

Despite winning 3 seats, Hashmi refused to take oath from President Musharraf and thus did not get a place in the federal cabinet. Hashmi was one of the few people who decided not to take oath as it was against his principle. Hashmi is the senior vice president of the party and is always seen in important meeting between the PML(N) and PPPP. Hashmi is considered a political heavyweight and is well respected throughout Pakistan. He is seen many times representing the views of his party the PML-N on various talk shows. It was widely reported that in the by-elections, Hashmi supported an independent candidate who was running against Makhdoom Mureed Hussain Qureshi, brother of Hashmi's old rival Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi. After Mureed Qureshi lost, many people including Mureed Hussain widely condemned the behaviour of Hashmi and said that they will report the incident to the chief of the Peoples Party, Asif Zardari. Hashmi is a strong supporter of the judges who have been sacked and it is said that Hashmi is one of the few people in the PML-N who are trying to convince the senior leadership of the PML-N to stop supporting the PPPP as they believe the PPPP is not serious and sincere when they say that they will restore the judges.

Kerry-Lugar Bill

Javed Hashmi released a very strong reaction on Inter Services Public Relations press release on Kerry-Luger bill.[citation needed] Terming Kerry-Lugar bill an interference on part of US in Pakistani security agencies' affairs, he said that if there is anything that needs to be corrected, Pakistan will do it herself. Besides he also commented on Pakistan Army's response to the bill saying "Pak Army should stay within its limits,... We will protect our Army if it ensures playing the role assigned to it." 

Resignation from Parliament (2011)

On 7 May 2011 Hashmi submitted his resignation from Parliament, claiming that is a dummy and not passing real legislation, his resignation has yet to be accepted by Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan the leader of Pakistan Parliamentary affairs. 

Hospitalization

In July 20, 2010, Hashmi was hospitalized at Nishtar Hospital after he suffered Brain Hemorrhage, and his body also suffered stroke due to internal bleeding. He was later admitted at the Lahore General Hospital Dr. Tariq Salahuddin, principal of the Lahore General Hospital. Dr. Tariq Salahuddin briefed the media and Hashmi’s CT Angiography reports came out normal. 

Emotions for Pakistan

Javed hashmi during attending a Geo tv talk show named as Capital Talk, became emotional and started to weep due to the murder of a young citizen Sarfraz shah by the karachi rangers. He stated that he is my own child and all the youth of Pakistan are my child. It is the time to secure them from killing in order to save Pakistan. 

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf

Javed Hashmi joined Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on December 24, 2011 saying that he has made no deal with Imran Khan and has become a member because Imran Khan has an agenda of a change, but analysts say that various reasons caused this act, like Nawaz Sharif refused to make Hashmi the leader of opposition, refused to let Hashmi run for President as Nawaz did not want the PML(Q)'s vote for Hashmi and the PML(N) did not give Hashmi's son-in-law, Zahid Hashmi a ticket for the elections. While addressing a mega political rally at the tomb of Quaid-e-Azam in Karachi on December 25, 2011 He said, "The youth of today have to move forward,Karachi is mini Pakistan. It represents all shades of the peoples of Pakistan." Quoting Quaid-e-Azam he said, "Minorities are our blood." Hashmi straight forwardly addressed to PTI Chairman Imran Khan, "Yes, I'm a rebel (Baghi); you invited a rebel to join PTI, Now if you have not delivered as per your manifesto I will be first person to rebel against your Party”

Javed Hashmi said that he joined Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf only for the sake of Pakistan and not for Imran khan. He later added that he would leave the party if PTI failed to deliver the nation after coming into the power. he has been warmly welcomed in Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf not only by Imran himself but also by all of the supporters. He is the first person in PTI whose addition in PTI have not been criticised by a single member.

Hashmi and his daughter Memoona Hashmi resigned from National assembly of Pakistan on December 29, 2011. Javed Hashmi dared Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) leader Nawaz Sharif to field his man against Shaikh Rashid in the next elections despite knowing that he too defeated Sheikh Rasheed on the PML(N)'s ticket and Sheikh Rasheed had been defeated by two other PMLN candidates as well.[12]