Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhary, born on 28 March 1959, is a Pakistani politician currently holding the position of Secretary General of Pakistan Muslim League (N). His political journey spans several decades, having been a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan from 1993 to 1999, then from 2008 to May 2018, and more recently, from August 2018 to August 2023.
In the Abbasi cabinet from 2017 to May 2018, Ahsan Iqbal served as both the Minister for Interior and the Minister for Planning, Development, and Reforms. His leadership within the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) extended to various ministerial roles, including Minister of Planning and Development and Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission of Pakistan in the third Sharif ministry. Notably, he briefly held portfolios such as Minister of Minorities and Minister of Education of Pakistan in the Gillani ministry in 2008.
Ahsan Iqbal’s significant contributions also include serving as the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission of Pakistan from 1998 to 1999 during the Sharif’s second ministry. As of 19 April 2022, he continues his public service as the federal minister for planning and development. His enduring commitment to public affairs and leadership roles underscores his influential presence in Pakistani politics.
Family and Education
According to PILDAT, Chaudhary’s birthdate is recorded as 28 March 1959, while The News International states it as 28 September 1958.
Hailing from a Punjabi Rajput family, Chaudhary’s maternal grandfather, Chaudhry Abdul Rahman Khan, held a position in the Punjab Legislative Assembly during British rule. Following the partition in 1947, the family relocated from Jalandhar, now in Indian Punjab.
His mother, Nisar Fatima, made her mark in politics as a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan on reserved seats for women in the 1985 Pakistani general election. Meanwhile, his brother, Mustafa Kamal, served as the chairman of the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA).
Chaudhary’s educational journey began at PAF College Sargodha for his early education. He pursued mechanical engineering at the University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, graduating with a BSc in 1981. Continuing his academic pursuits, he earned an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1986. Reports suggest additional academic engagements at Government College Lahore, Georgetown University, and Harvard University.
Political Career
Chaudhary commenced his political journey as the president of the student union at the University of Engineering and Technology, later affiliating with Islami Jamiat Tulaba, the student wing of the right-wing Jamat-i-Islami.
In the 1993 Pakistani general election, he secured his initial term in the National Assembly, concurrently serving as the Policy and Public Affairs Assistant to the Prime Minister. During the PML-N’s victory in 1997, Chaudhary played pivotal roles in various government positions, contributing to the nation’s progress. His initiatives included formulating Pakistan’s first national IT policy.
Despite a setback in the 2002 Pakistani general election, where he temporarily lost his National Assembly seat, Chaudhary maintained his commitment to education, teaching management at Mohammad Ali Jinnah University during the Musharraf era.
Re-elected in the 2008 Pakistani general election, he briefly served as the Minister for Education and Minister of Minorities’ Affairs but resigned due to PML-N’s decision to sit in opposition. A loyalist of Nawaz Sharif, he played a crucial role in keeping PML-N active during the Musharraf rule.
His re-election in the 2013 general election marked his fourth term in the National Assembly, and he assumed roles as the Minister of Planning and Development and Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission of Pakistan.
In 2016, he gained international recognition as the United Nations Development Programme’s ‘champion minister’ for the Asia Pacific region, applauding his efforts to promote Sustainable Development Goals.
Chaudhary’s ministerial journey continued in the federal cabinet under Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, where he served as the Minister for Interior and later held additional responsibilities in the Ministry of Planning and Development. His tenure faced criticism in 2017 but concluded upon the dissolution of the National Assembly in May 2018.
Re-elected in the 2018 Pakistani general election, Chaudhary faced legal challenges, getting arrested in December 2019 over alleged corruption charges related to the Narowal sports complex. Despite spending 90 days in custody, he was released as the NAB failed to substantiate the case against him.
Assassination attempt
In May 2018, Chaudhary was shot and injured during a political rally in Narowal, his home constituency, in an apparent assassination attempt. Airlifted to Lahore for surgery, he was reported to be in stable condition. The assailant, connected to Tehreek-e-Labaik, was apprehended at the scene and later confessed in a police statement to attempting the assassination over the issue of blasphemy laws.