Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed (Paki Politician)

Introduction:-

Shaikh Rasheed Ahmad (born In Rawalpindi on November 6, 1950) is a Pakistani politician and writer. He served as the Federal Minister for Railways in Pakistan from 2006 to 2008. His previous portfolio have included appointments as Federal Minister for Labor and Manpower, Information and Broadcasting, Industries, Sports, Culture, and Tourism and Investment. Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad completed an M.A degree in Political Science from University of Punjab in 1995.

Awami Style (Public Style):-

Sheikh Rasheed is famous for his 'Awami style' (public style) of politics. He is still a bachelor. He is one of few politicians who started their political career at the grass roots level and rose to prominence.

Books:-

He is the author of Farzand-e-Pakistan, and is currently working on another book, Sub Achha Hai.

Early Life and Education:-

Sheikh Rashid Ahmed was born in Bhabra Bazar, Rawalpindi. His father was from Srinagar, Kashmir while mother was from Amritsar. In 1947 his parents migrated from Srinagar and settled in Rawalpindi. They established business in silk.

Rashid got his initial education from Christian High school Rawalpindi. He studied at Rawalpindi Polytechnic College and later at Gordon College. He completed his Bachelor of Laws at the University of Lahore. Throughout his education, Rashid was very active in student politics. On November 7, 1968 he organized movement against Ayub regime in which one student Hameed Shaheed sacrificed his life. Rashid was among three student who were barred from getting admission in any educational institution.

Later he got admission in Gordon College Rawalpindi and took active part in student politics. He emerged as a successful student leader and was elected in Student Union as Joint Secretary, Secretary, Vice President and President during four years respectively. He graduated from Gordon College and passed his M.A examination from Shahpur Jail. He completed his L.L.B from Lahore. He became Managing Director of Gulmerg Company, which was doing business in silk and silk yarn.

Personal Life:-

He is not married and lives in Lal Haveli in the heart of Rawalpindi. Lal Haveli has become a tourist destination due to its beautiful, ancient architecture.

He has been organizing a big public meeting on the eve of 14th of August (independence day of Pakistan) at his residence Lal Haveli and the firework show is extremely popular among the people of the city and hundreds of people turn to watch this show every year.

Links with kashmir:-

Rashid Ahmed has his roots in Srinagar - capital of the Indian administered Kashmir and is known for his support to the anti-India uprising in Jammu and Kashmir. He shot into prominence when Indian Government denied him permission to visit New Delhi in 2004 fall, after a Kashmiri separatist Yasin Malik said that his residence and farm house has been used by militant organizations. His fiery speeches on Kashmir are widely appreciated in Indian administered Kashmir. He has a dream to visit Srinagar to offer prayers at the graves of
his forefathers.

Political Background:-

Sheikh Rasheed Ahamad was first elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan in 1985 and has been re-elected a record six times. He used to be the right-hand man of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. In the General Elections of 2002, he was denied the Party ticket to contest in the General Elections. He contested as an Independent Candidate for the General Elections in 2002 from two seats in Rawalpindi. After winning his home seat, he joined the newly formed Muslim League and became the Minister of the Information and broadcasting. During his time as Information Minister, his department issued licences to almost fifty private TV Channels which is considered his major contribution. He was also very outspoken and sometimes said things against his own government.

He previously held the office of Senior Vice President of PML(Q) and has served as Federal Minister for Industries, Federal Minister for Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis; Federal Minister for Tourism, Sports and Culture, Federal Minister for Information and Media Development and Federal Minister of Railways.

History of NA-55:-

The first-ever general elections were held in the country on December 7, 1970, because of the delay caused by the separation of East Pakistan, the first session of the National Assembly was held on April 14, 1972 at the State Bank Building, Islamabad.

The present NA-55 (Rawalpindi-VI) constituency (April 14, 1972 to March 7, 1977) was then called NA-26 (Rawalpindi-I) or NW-26 because when the elections were held it was united Pakistan. In that election, Khurshid Hassan Mir of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) was elected from this constituency. After the election of December 1970, eight more general elections were held in 1977,1985,1988,1990,1993,1996,2002 and then 1n 2008. Let's see NA-55 election in historical context, the constituency was known as NW-26 in 1970's election but was named NA-38 Rawalpindi III in 1977's election. The name remained same in 1985, 1988, 1990, 1993 and 1997 elections, while the elections for 12th National Assembly were held on October 10, 2002. As according to the Delimitation of Constituencies Act 1974, the constituencies for elections to the national and provincial assemblies were to be delimited after every census and this constituency was renamed as NA-55 (Rawalpindi-VI) keeping in view the 1998 census.

In 1977 elections (March 26 to July 5, 1977), the constituency was renamed as NA-38 (Rawalpindi-III) and again PPP leader Syed Asghar Ali Shah was elected from this constituency. But majority of the political parties did not accept the results and blamed PPP for massive rigging resultantly, a violent protest movement was launched against PPP government. This resulted in severe political crisis and imposition of martial law by Gen Zia-ul-Haq on July 5, 1977.

Political Career:-

General elections were held in 1985 on non-party basis for the seventh assembly (March 20, 1985 to May 29, 1988) and Sheikh Rashid Ahmed was elected for the first time from NA-38 as an independent candidate. The general elections for the eighth National Assembly (November 30, 1988 to August 6, 1990) were held on November 16, 1988 on party basis. Sheikh Rashid Ahmed was elected from NA-38 on the ticket of Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI) by securing 73,052 votes with General (Retd) Tikka Khan of the PPP finishing as the runner-up with 57,665 votes.

The general elections for the ninth National Assembly (November 3, 1990 to July 11, 1993) were held on October 24, 1990. Sheikh Rashid Ahmed as an IJI candidate from NA-38 got 78,107 votes and defeated eight other candidates including Ch Mushtaq Hussain of PDA who got 54,701 votes.

The elections for tenth National Assembly (March 15, 1993 to November 5, 1996) were held on October 6, 1993. Sheikh Rashid Ahmed was elected from NA-38 on the ticket of PML-N (80,758 votes) defeating eight other candidates with a big margin. Agha Riaz-ul-Islam of PPP with 53,841 votes was on 2nd position.

The elections for eleventh National Assembly (February 15, 1997 to October 12, 1999) were held on February 3, 1997. Sheikh Rashid Ahmed was elected from NA-38 on PML-N's ticket with 72,183 votes, defeating his five opponents impressively. This time he trounced Naheed Khan --a big name for PPP-- who secured 24,714 votes only.

The elections for 12th National Assembly were held on October 10, 2002. As according to the Delimitation of Constituencies Act 1974, the constituencies for elections for the national and provincial assemblies were to be delimited after every census and this constituency was renamed as NA-55 (Rawalpindi-VI) keeping in view the 1998 census.

Sheikh Rashid Ahmed contested the election in 2002 as an independent candidate and got 40,649 votes as winner while Agha Riaz-ul-Islam of PPPP got 28,885 votes. This was Sheikh Rashid Ahmed's consecutive sixth win. Later, he joined PML-Q, which proved a wrong decision.

In 2008 general elections he faced an embarrassing defeat. PML-N leader Makhdoom Javed Hashmi defeated Sheikh Rashid Ahmed by getting 76,980 votes. Malik Aamir Fida Paracha of PPP was able to get 37,397 votes.

In a by-election held on 24 February 2010, the Awami Muslim League Chief Sheikh Rashid lost to Pakistan Muslim League-N candidate Malik Shakil Awan. In a press conference Wednesday night, he leveled rigging charges against Punjab government but said he would not lodge his complaint with the Election Commission of Pakistan. “Election Commission is helpless before Punjab government,” he said.