Wasim Sajjad

Wasim Sajjad
President of Pakistan
Acting
In office
2 December 1997 – 1 January 1998
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
Preceded by Farooq Leghari
Succeeded by Rafiq Tarar
In office
18 July 1993 – 14 November 1993
Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto
Moeenuddin Qureshi (Acting)
Preceded by Ghulam Ishaq Khan
Succeeded by Farooq Leghari
Chairman of the Senate
In office
24 December 1988 – 12 October 1999
Preceded by Ghulam Ishaq Khan
Succeeded by Mohammad Soomro
Interior of Pakistan
In office
29 March 1987 – 28 July 1987
President Zia-ul-Haq
Prime Minister Muhammad Junejo
Preceded by Nadir Pervez
Succeeded by Aslam Khattak
Law and Justice Minister of Pakistan
In office
20 September 1986 – 4 December 1988
President Zia-ul-Haq
Prime Minister Muhammad Junejo
Preceded by Aitzaz Ahsan
Succeeded by Sharifuddin Pirzada
Personal details
Born Wasim Sajjad
(1941-03-30) 30 March 1941
Jalandhar, Punjab, British India
(now in Punjab, India)
Citizenship  Pakistan
Nationality Pakistani
Political party Pakistan Muslim League (Q)
(2002–present)
Other political
affiliations		 Islami Jamhoori Ittehad
Pakistan Muslim League (N)
Relations Humza Sheikh Irfan
Alma mater Punjab University
BA, MA
Oxford University
LLB, MA
Inns of Court School of Law
Barrister-at-Law
Cabinet Zia Cabinet
Religion Islam
Website Senate biography

Wasim Sajjad (Urdu: وسیم سجاد‎; born 30 March 1941), is a Pakistani retired statesman, lawyer, diplomat, professor of law, conservative and Rhodes scholar who served as the Acting President of Pakistan in two nonconsective terms (1996–97; July 1993–November 1993), as well as Chairman of Senate from 1988 until 1999.[1]

A technocrat in senate, he is the longest–serving Chairman of Senate, serving in that capacity from 1988 until 1999.[2] Originally representing the PML(N), Sajjad defected to defecting group that supported Pervez Musharraf and has been its Member since 1999. In addition, he favourably nominated to become the Chief Justice of Pakistan in 2003 after the retirement of Sheikh Riaz Ahmad but he declined the offer and preferred to stick to his law profession.[3]

After retiring from the national politics, he has been serving as Chancellor of the National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences, chairman of the Youth Hostels Association and the national secretary for the Rhodes Scholarship in Pakistan.[4]

Political career and President of Pakistan

His political career began in the 1980s when he was elected to the Pakistani Senate. He served as the Federal Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary affairs, and also held the portfolio of the Federal Minister for Interior, under the Government of Prime Minister Muhammad Khan Junejo. He moved up to Chairman of the Senate in 1988, and served his first term as President in 1993, following the resignation of Ghulam Ishaq Khan. As interim president, Sajjad was essentially a placeholder for the office until elections were completed. He would run in the election for President, but was defeated by Farooq Leghari. In 1997, Sajjad was again made interim President and stepped down upon the election of Muhammad Rafiq Tarar.

In 2002, Sajjad was accused of mis-use of government vehicles and phones, amounting to millions of rupees. He was ordered to pay a fine, but served no time in jail.[5]

As Chairman of the Senate he has led parliamentary delegations in a number of countries including Trinidad, New Zealand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Germany, United Kingdom, Spain, Poland, Australia, France, United States, Canada, Japan, Thailand and Chile.

Political positions

He was elected to the Senate of Pakistan in 1985, 1991, 1997, 2003 and again in 2006.He also held the Office of the Federal Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs from September 1986 to December 1988. Also held the portfolio of the Federal Minister for Interior & Narcotics Control He was the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate in 1988. Sajjad was elected as chairman, Senate of Pakistan, in December 1988 and re elected as chairman, Senate, in 1991, 1994 & 1997, for a term of three years each time. He has thus been chairman Senate for about twelve years which is the longest period for any chairman Senate in Pakistan. He has acted as President of Pakistan on numerous occasions during absence of the President from Pakistan. He was the President of Pakistan from July to November 1993 (During this period, general elections were held in the country and power was transferred to the elected government). He once again became the President of Pakistan from December 1997 to January 1998. He served as the Leader of the House in the Senate of Pakistan from March 2003 to March 2008.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Govt. Pakistan. "Wasim Sajjad: A Senator's work". http://www.senate.gov.pk/. Senate Secretariat Press. Retrieved 2 February 2015. External link in |website= (help)
  2. ↑ Scholar of the Week. "Pakistan's Rhodes Scholars". http://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/. Scholar of the Week. Retrieved 2 February 2015. External link in |website= (help)
  3. ↑ Ashraf Mumtaz (18 September 2006). "Wasim Sajjad declined to become CJP". Dawn. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  4. ↑ FAST-NU. "Officers of University". http://www.nu.edu.pk/. FAST-NU. Retrieved 2 February 2015. External link in |website= (help)
  5. ↑ Maryam Hussain (2002). "Wasim Sajjad off the Hook, while others rot in jail". South Asia Tribune. Retrieved 20 September 2007.
  6. ↑ http://www.senate.gov.pk/en/profile.php?uid=107
Political offices
Preceded by
Muhammad Aslam Khan Khattak		 Minister of the Interior
1987 		Succeeded by
Malik Nasim Ahmed Aheer
Preceded by
Ghulam Ishaq Khan		 Chairman of the Senate
1988–1999 		Succeeded by
Muhammad Mian Soomro
President of Pakistan
Acting
1993 		Succeeded by
Farooq Leghari
Preceded by
Farooq Leghari		 President of Pakistan
Acting
1997–1998 		Succeeded by
Muhammad Rafiq Tarar
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