Parvez Elahi

Chaudhry Parvez Elahi Warraich is a Pakistani politician who has held several high-ranking government positions. He served as the fifth deputy prime minister of Pakistan from 2012 to 2013 and twice occupied the office of chief minister of Punjab. Currently, he holds the position of president for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.

Early life and education

Parvez Elahi was born on 1 November 1945 in Gujrat, Punjab. He comes from a Punjabi family of Jat (Warraich) origin. His father, Chaudhry Manzoor Elahi, was an industrialist who worked in the textile industry. Although his father focused on business, the family has a long history of political involvement.

Elahi completed his early education at Forman Christian College in Lahore until 1967. He later attended Watford College of Technology to pursue higher studies. From this institution, he obtained a Diploma in Industrial Management.

Career

The political journey of Elahi began in 1983 when he was elected as the chairman of the district council of Gujrat for 4 years. He entered the Provincial Assembly of Punjab in 1985 and served as a provincial minister for Local Government and Rural Development until 1993. During this period, he was also elected to the assembly in 1988, 1990, and 1993. He briefly acted as the leader of the opposition in the Provincial Assembly of Punjab starting in 1993.

Elahi aligned himself with the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI) between 1985 and 1993. Following the dissolution of that group, he joined the Pakistan Muslim League (N). He was elected to the Provincial Assembly for a fifth time in 1997. During that year, he served as the speaker of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab until June 2001.

Following the military coup in 1999, he faced detention by the National Accountability Bureau regarding corruption charges. These charges were dropped after he left the PML-N to assist President Pervez Musharraf in establishing the Pakistan Muslim League (Q). He became a leading member of this new party and was elected as the Chief Minister of Punjab for the first time in 2002. He held this provincial leadership role until 2007.

His administration during the 2002 to 2007 period introduced several major projects. These included the establishment of the Multan Institute of Cardiology and the Lahore Ring Road. He also founded the University of Gujrat and the Rescue 1122 helpline system. In 2004, his government implemented the Female Secondary School Stipend program to boost female enrollment in public schools.

Elahi continued his political activity in the National Assembly as a member between 2008 and 2018. He briefly served as the leader of the opposition in 2008. His subsequent roles included serving as the speaker of the Punjab Assembly from 2018 to 2022. He also held the position of governor of the province briefly in 2018.

In January 2023, he dissolved the provincial assembly while serving as chief minister. He later left the PML(Q) due to political rifts with his cousin, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain. Along with his son, Moonis Elahi, and 10 other MPAs, he joined the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in late February 2023. On 7 March 2023, he was appointed as the president of the party.

Personal life

Chaudhry Manzoor Elahi had five children: three sons and two daughters. His brother, Chaudhry Zahoor, was also active in politics. One of his brothers, Javed, managed the family business while another son is Parvez himself. His sister, Sabahat, resides in Thailand.