PPPP Ch. Aitzaz Ahsan
Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan born September 27, 1945 at Murree. He has worked as vice president of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.Aitzaz Ahsan was elected as MPA in Punjab in 1976-77, and held the portfolios of Information, Planning and Development, Culture and Tourism as provincial minister. Later, he served as federal minister for Law and Justice; Interior, Narcotics Control and Education.
Aitzaz Ahsan received his masters degree from Cambridge University, U.K. in 1967. A Barrister-at-Law by profession, he is a Senior Advocate at the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Posessing a literary penchant, he has also authored the book “The Indus Saga and the Making of Pakistan” and its Urdu translation, “Sindh Sagar Aur Qyam-e-Pakistan” which present the cultural history of Pakistan. Married, he is the father of two daughters and a son.
History and Background
Ahsan is a well respected Pakistani lawyer, writer, politician, former Federal Minister for Law and Justice; Interior, Narcotics Control (1988-1990) and Education and leader of the opposition in the senate (1994-1999). Elected Member of National Assembly thirce on a People’s Party ticket, he is noted for his loyalty to PPP leader Benazir Bhutto and is one of Pakistan’s most respected politicians for his eloquent and articulate speeches on the floor of the assembly and his knowledge of the law. He also made legal history of sorts by having defended two Prime Ministers in the court of law. Having previously fought cases in defence of Ms Bhutto in 2001 he took up a case in defence of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Early Years
Aitzaz Ahsan started his political career in the 1970’s when he held the portfolio of Punjab information planning & development minister during Pakistan Peoples Party(PPP) government in 1970’s. He was jailed several times as a political prisoner without trial for active participation in the movement for restoration of democracy.
In Power
Chief Justice case:
Recently Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan successsfully represented Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry’s case in the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The hearing was being conducted by a full panel of judges headed by Justice Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday, and the 13-member panel reinstated the Chief Justice declaring his suspension by Pervez Musharraf regime “illegal.”
Human rights activist:
He is also an indefatigable human rights activist and a founder & vice-president of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. He has been incarcerated under arbitrary detention laws many times by military and authoritarian regimes. During one such prolonged detention, he wrote The Indus Saga.
During Emergency:
Aitzaz Ahsan was arrested soon after the declaration of emergency/martial law. youtube video 1 youtube video 2/. There have also rumors that he is being kept in solitary confinement and bring tortured. Recently, 33 US Senators wrote to President Musharraf to release Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan immediately, as he is widely respected all around the world.
Literary Contribution:
Possessing a literary penchant, he has also authored the book “The Indus Saga and the Making of Pakistan” and its Urdu translation, “Sindh Sagar Aur Qyam-e-Pakistan” which presents the cultural history of Pakistan. [3]
He has also co-authored the book “Divided by Democracy” with Lord Meghnad Desai of the London School of Economics.
He elected as member of National Assembly in 2002 elections from NA-124 , Lahore-vII
Current Status
Areas of Legislative Interest
• Constitutional Remendies/Corporate Reform/Hum Right
Membership of National Assembly Committees
• Standing Committee on interior
• Standing Committee on Public Accounts
Ch. Aitzaz Ahsan Pictures
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