Muhammad Basharat Raja Explained

Muhammad Basharat Raja
Office:Provincial Minister of Punjab for Law and Parliamentary Affairs
Term Start:27 August 2018
Term End:1 April 2022
1Blankname:Chief Minister
1Namedata:Sardar Usman Buzdar
Office3:Advisor to the Prime Minister on Industries
Term Start3:3 May 2011
Term End3:16 March 2013
President3:Asif Ali Zardari
Primeminister3:Yusuf Raza Gillani
Raja Pervaiz Ashraf
Office4:Provincial Minister of Punjab for Law and Parliamentary Affairs
Term Start4:2003
Term End4:2007
1Blankname4:Chief Minister
1Namedata4:Pervaiz Elahi
Office7:Provincial Minister of Punjab for Law and Parliamentary Affairs
Term Start7:1997
Term End7:1999
1Blankname7:Chief Minister
1Namedata7:Shehbaz Sharif
Office10:Member of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab
Term Start10:15 August 2018
Term End10:14 January 2023
Constituency10:PP-14 Rawalpindi-IX
Term Start11:2003
Term End11:2007
Constituency11:PP-110 (Gujrat-III)
Term Start12:1996
Term End12:1999
Constituency12:PP-4 (Rawalpindi-IV)
Term Start13:1993
Term End13:1996
Constituency13:PP-4 (Rawalpindi- IV)
Term Start14:1990
Term End14:1993
Constituency14:PP-4 (Rawalpindi- IV)
Office15:Member District Council Rawalpindi
Term Start15:1987
Term End15:1990
Constituency15:Rawalpindi
Office16:Chairman District Council Rawalpindi
Term Start16:1979
Term End16:1987
Constituency16:Rawalpindi
Nationality:Pakistani
Birth Date:1951 8, df=yes
Birth Place:Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan
Party:Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (2018-present)
Pakistan Muslim League (Q) (2002-2018)
Pakistan Muslim League (N)(1990-1999)
Islami Jamhoori Ittehad(1988-1990)
Pakistan Peoples Party(1970-1988)

Muhammad Basharat Raja (Punjabi: محمد بشارت راجہ) is a Pakistani politician who was the Provincial Minister of Punjab for Law and Parliamentary Affairs and Provincial Minister of Punjab for Baitul Maal and Social Welfare. He had been a member of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab from August 2018 till January 2023. He is the son of former Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan Raja Laal of Rawalpindi.

He was first elected as Chairman District Council Rawalpindi in 1979. Previously, he was a member of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab from 1990 to 1999 and again from 2003 to 2007. He served as Provincial Minister of Punjab for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, and Minister for Information, Culture and Youth Affairs between 1997 and 1999 and served as Provincial Minister of Punjab for Local Government and Community Development, and minister for Law, Parliamentary Affairs and Public Prosecution between 2003 and 2007. On 21 November 2020, he was appointed Provincial Minister of Punjab for Cooperatives. He was also the Provincial Minister of Public Prosecution and Cooperatives in the cabinet of Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi from 7 August 2022 to 22 December 2022.

Early and personal life

He was born on 11 August 1951 in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.[1] He belongs to powerful Janjua Rajput tribe of Pothohar region. His tribe Dhamial Rajgan shares blood relations with other powerful Rajgans of Chakra, Ranial, Bijnial, Chak Jalal-uddin and other prominent dominating families of Rawalpindi. His tribe spreads over many villages of Rawalpindi, Chakwal, Jehlum areas. He is the son of former mpa Raja Laal khan. His uncle won the district elections before independence 1947.He received the degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1976 from University of the Punjab.He resides at Dhamial House Rawalpindi. A Public secretariat is also present beside his personal residence. He is the first cousin of former Tehsil Nazim Rawalpindi Hamid Nawaz Raja. His brother Raja Nasir is also a senior politician and served as special advisor to Chief Minister of Punjab.

Marriage controversy

In 2017, Seemal Raja, former Member of Punjab Assembly sent a defamation notice of Rs 2 billion to Raja and claimed that Raja had married with her in August 2014 but refused to publicly accept the marriage[2] which damaged her reputation. She also accused Raja and his family of seizing her assets, including jewelry, cash and a vehicle.[3] In July 2018, she claimed that Raja tortured her and expelled her out his house.[4]

He was also married with a woman political activist (affiliated with PML-Q)from Balochistan named; Pari Gull Agha. Seemal Raja (his accused wife) claimed that Basharat Raja had also divorced Pari Gull Agha. Seemal's claim was denied by Basharat Raja. [5]

Political career

He began his political career with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in 1970s and then joined Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N).[6]

He was elected to the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab as a candidate of Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI) from Constituency PP-4 (Rawalpindi-IV) in 1990 Pakistani general election. He received 45,389 votes and defeated Zakir Hussain Shah.[7]

He was re-elected to the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab as a candidate of PML-N from Constituency PP-4 (Rawalpindi-IV) in 1993 Pakistani general election. He received 47,811 votes and defeated Zakir Hussain Shah.

He was re-elected to the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab as a candidate of PML-N from Constituency PP-4 (Rawalpindi-IV) in 1997 Pakistani general election. He received 46,253 votes and defeated Zamarud Khan. During his tenure as member of the Punjab Assembly, he served in the provincial Punjab cabinet of Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif as Provincial Minister of Punjab for Law and Parliamentary Affairs with the additional ministerial portfolio of Information, Culture and Youth Affairs.[8]

He quit PML-N following 1999 Pakistani coup d'état and joined Pakistan Muslim League (Q) (PML-Q). Large number of his tribesman parted ways with him after this decision and decided to remain loyal with Mian Nawaz Sharif, joined Ch Nisar Ali Khan.

He ran for the seat of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab as a candidate of PML-Q from Constituency PP-6 (Rawalpindi-VI) in 2002 Pakistani general election but was unsuccessful. He received 14,701 votes and lost the seat to Raja Arshad Mehmood, a candidate of PML-N.

On 3 January 2003, he was inducted into the provincial Punjab cabinet of Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and appointed as adviser to the chief minister of Punjab.[9] [10]

He was re-elected to the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab as a candidate of PML-Q from Constituency PP-110 (Gujrat-III) in by-polls held on 15 January 2003.[11] [12] He received 82,057 votes and defeated Chaudhry Tariq Javed, a candidate of PPP.[13] He was accused of misusing the state machinery to win the election. During his tenure as member of the Punjab Assembly, he served as Provincial Minister of Punjab for Local Government and Community Development with the additional ministerial portfolio of Law, Parliamentary Affairs and Public Prosecution.

He ran for the seat of the National Assembly of Pakistan as a candidate of PML-Q from Constituency NA-54 (Rawalpindi–V) in 2008 Pakistani general election but was unsuccessful. He received 10,400 votes and lost the seat to Malik Ibrar Ahmed. In the same election, he also ran for the seat of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab as a candidate of PML-Q from Constituency PP-6 (Rawalpindi-VI) but was unsuccessful He received 17,771 votes and lost the seat to Chaudhary Sarfraz Afzal.[14]

He ran for the seat of the National Assembly as a candidate of PML-Q from Constituency NA-52 (Rawalpindi-III) in 2013 Pakistani general election but was unsuccessful. He received 43,866 votes and lost the seat to Nisar Ali Khan.[15]

In June 2018, because of seat adjustment with PTI he contested the election on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ticket.

He was re-elected to the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab as a candidate of the PTI from PP-14 Rawalpindi-IX in the 2018 Punjab provincial election.[16]

On 27 August 2018, he was inducted into the provincial Punjab cabinet of Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar and was appointed as Provincial Minister of Punjab for law and parliamentary affairs.[17]

He ran for a seat in the Provincial Assembly of Punjab from PP-12 Rawalpindi-VII as a candidate of the PTI in the 2024 Punjab provincial election but was defeated in that election.[18]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Profile . www.pap.gov.pk . Punjab Assembly . 3 September 2018 . en . https://web.archive.org/web/20180227182843/http://www.pap.gov.pk/index.php/members/profile/en/9/103 . 2018-02-27 . live .
  2. News: Seemal exposes 'husband' Raja with screenshots . 3 September 2018 . The Nation . 7 August 2017.
  3. News: Seemal Raja sends defamation notice of Rs2bn to Basharat Raja, his family . 3 September 2018 . www.pakistantoday.com.pk.
  4. News: PML-Q ex-MPA accuses Raja Basharat of hiding his marriage . 3 September 2018 . The Nation . 12 July 2018.
  5. News: PML-Q ex-MPA accuses Raja Basharat of hiding his marriage . 3 September 2018 . The Nation . 12 July 2018.
  6. News: Basharat Raja joins PTI . 3 September 2018 . DAWN.COM . 30 June 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180630073347/https://www.dawn.com/news/1416904 . 2018-06-30 . live .
  7. Web site: Punjab Assembly election results 1988-97 . ECP . 3 September 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170830191836/https://ecp.gov.pk/Documents/Results%201988%20-%201997/Punjab.pdf . 2017-08-30 . live .
  8. Web site: Punjab Assembly 1997 . papmis.pitb.gov.pk . Punjab Assembly . 3 September 2018 . en . 3 September 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180903092111/http://papmis.pitb.gov.pk/en/members/past-members/provincial-assembly-of-the-punjab-1972-to-date/provincial-assembly-thirteenth-legislator-post . dead .
  9. News: Hanif . Intikhab . 25-member Punjab cabinet takes oath . 3 September 2018 . DAWN.COM . 4 January 2003 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170610091405/https://www.dawn.com/news/76011 . 2017-06-10 . live .
  10. News: Notices to AG, law minister . 3 September 2018 . DAWN.COM . 29 July 2003.
  11. News: Asghar . Raja . PML-Q, MMA leading in polls: PPP boycotts on most seats; five killed in Sindh violence . 3 September 2018 . DAWN.COM . 16 January 2003 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180614044909/https://www.dawn.com/news/77869 . 2018-06-14 . live .
  12. News: Asghar . Raja . PML-Q, MMA win majority seats . 3 September 2018 . DAWN.COM . 17 January 2003 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180614044833/https://www.dawn.com/news/78037 . 2018-06-14 . live .
  13. Web site: 2002 election result . ECP . 3 September 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180126141507/https://www.ecp.gov.pk/ge/ge2002vol2.pdf . 2018-01-26 . live .
  14. Web site: 2008 election result . ECP . 3 September 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180105060230/https://ecp.gov.pk/Documents/General%20Elections%202008/Report,%20General%20Election%202008,%20Vol-II.pdf . 2018-01-05 . live .
  15. Web site: 2013 election result . ECP . 3 September 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180201140612/https://ecp.gov.pk/Documents/General%20Elections%202013%20report/Election%20Report%202013%20Volume-II.pdf . 2018-02-01 . live .
  16. News: Muhammad Basharat Raja of PTI wins PP-14 election . 3 September 2018 . Associated Press Of Pakistan . 26 July 2018.
  17. News: Malik . Mansoor . Punjab cabinet sworn in: Only 15 out of 23 ministers given portfolios . 3 September 2018 . DAWN.COM . 28 August 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180902103037/https://www.dawn.com/news/1429375/punjab-cabinet-sworn-in-only-15-out-of-23-ministers-given-portfolios . 2018-09-02 . live .
  18. Web site: 2023-04-19 . List of PTI Candidates for Provincial Elections In Punjab 2023 . 2023-04-21 . Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf . en.