Shaikh Rohale Asghar is a prominent Pakistani politician representing the Pakistan Muslim League (N). He has held various legislative positions at both provincial and national levels throughout his career. His political journey spans several decades of service within the Lahore region.
Early life and education
Asghar was born on 24 October 1952. He comes from a Kashmiri Shaikh family with deep political roots. His late father, Sheikh Asghar, served as a member of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab. Additionally, his late brother, Sheikh Shakeel Asghar, was also a member of the same provincial assembly.
Politics appears to be a significant family legacy for him. He hails from Daroghawala, Lahore.
Career
Asghar began his legislative career in the 1985 Pakistani general election. He was elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan representing constituency NA-83 (Lahore-III). During the 1988 general elections, he ran as an Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI) candidate for NA-93 (Lahore-II). He received 41,181 votes in that contest but lost the seat to Aitzaz Ahsan.
He transitioned to provincial politics in 1990. As an IJI candidate for constituency PP-118 (Lahore-III), he secured 42,058 votes and defeated Mian Aziz-ur-Rehman Chan of the Pakistan Democratic Alliance. His success in the Punjab Provincial Assembly lasted until 1993. He attempted to retain his seat in 1993 as an independent candidate but received 9,432 votes. This loss saw him defeated by Muhammad Hanif Ramay of the Pakistan Peoples Party.
The 1997 elections presented a different challenge for Asghar. He contested the PP-118 seat as a candidate for the PPP. He earned 17,419 votes but lost to Haji Imdad Hussain of the PML-N. After this period, he returned to the national stage with the PML-N.
Asghar was elected to the National Assembly from constituency NA-124 (Lahore-VII) in 2008. He secured 71,342 votes and defeated Ayaz Imran of the PPP. In the 2013 general elections, he achieved a higher mandate. He won the NA-124 seat with 119,312 votes by defeating Walid Iqbal of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. His electoral success continued into the 2018 elections. He was elected to the National Assembly from constituency NA-128 (Lahore-VI) after receiving 98,199 votes. He defeated Aijaz Ahmed of the PTI during this cycle.
His tenure in the National Assembly lasted from August 2018 until August 2023. During this period, he served as an Advisor to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. This advisory role carried the status of a Federal Minister.
Personal life
Asghar's children have also entered public service. His son, Khurram Rohale Asghar, has held the position of PML-N Youth Wing Lahore President. His daughter, Ayesha Rohale, is active in British politics. She previously served as a Liberal Democrat councillor for Welwyn Hatfield.