Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar was a prominent Pakistani politician and businessman. He served as the Defence Minister of Pakistan within the cabinet led by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani. Beyond his political duties, he was an industrialist who owned the Servis Group and founded Shalamar Hospital.
Early life and education
Mukhtar was born on 22 June 1946 in Lahore. He belonged to a Punjabi Gujjar family with ancestral roots in Gujrat. His father, Chaudhry Muhammad Hussain, served as the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board from 1977 to 1978. Mukhtar attended Abbottabad Public School and later graduated from Forman Christian College University.
He pursued specialized studies abroad to enhance his technical expertise. He obtained a Master of Science degree in Operational Management from California in the United States. Additionally, he earned a Diploma in Plastic Technology from West Germany. Mukhtar was a multilingual individual who spoke Urdu, Punjabi, English and German.
Career
Mukhtar began his political journey in 1990 through the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) platform. He established himself as a central leader for the PPP within the Gujrat District. As an industrialist, he held the position of Commerce Minister during the Benazir Bhutto government between 1993 and 1996. His political influence grew significantly when he defeated Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain in the NA-105 Gujrat constituency. He secured this victory in both 1993 and 2008 against the PML-Q leader.
Following the 2008 elections, Mukhtar faced intense speculation regarding the nation's leadership. He was considered a top candidate for the Prime Ministership alongside Ameen Faheem, Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Yousaf Raza Gillani. However, the role was ultimately granted to Gillani on 22 March 2008. Mukhtar subsequently joined the coalition government formed on 31 March 2008. This government included the PPP, PML-N, ANP and JUI-F parties.
He assumed the role of Defence Minister during this coalition period. His professional life also extended to the aviation sector. Mukhtar took over as the Chairman of PIA in May 2008.
Personal life
The family of Ahmad Mukhtar held several significant positions in Pakistani public life. His brother, Ahmad Saeed, served as the Managing Director of PIA starting in April 2001. Ahmad Saeed also acted as the Chairman of PIA from April 2003 until April 2005. These roles occurred during the era of General Pervez Musharraf.
Mukhtar was also connected to the sports administration of the country. He was the brother-in-law of Ijaz Butt, who served as the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board. Mukhtar passed away on 25 November 2020 after a prolonged illness. He was 74 years old at the time of his death.