Raja Yassir Humayun Explained

Raja Yassir Humayun Sarfraz
Office:Provincial Minister of Punjab for Higher Education
Term Start:27 August 2018
Term End:14 January 2023
Office1:Provincial Minister of Punjab for Information Technology
Term Start1:22 July 2019
Term End1:27 March 2022
Office2:Provincial Minister of Punjab for Tourism
Term Start2:27 August 2018
Term End2:19 July 2019
Office3:Member of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab
Term Start3:15 August 2018
Nationality:Pakistani
Other Party: Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (2023-present)
Constituency3:PP-21 Chakwal-I
Term End3:14 January 2023

Raja Yassir Humayun Sarfraz is a Pakistani politician who was the Provincial Minister of Punjab for Higher Education and Information Technology in office since 6 August 2022 till April January 2023.Previously, he was Provincial Minister for Higher Education from 27 August 2018 to 27 March 2022. He has also been provincial minister of Punjab for tourism from 27 August 2018 to 19 July 2019. He also held the portfolio of Information Technology from 22 July 2019 to 27 March 2022. He had been a member of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab from August 2018 till January 2023.

Early life, education and professional career

He was born on 28 December 1972 in Faisalabad, Punjab Pakistan.[1] Born to a feudal Rajput family, his family has significant influence in Chakwal and has been active in politics and philanthropy.[2] His grandfather Raja Muhammed Sarfraz Khan was member of the Pakistan Movement and remained member of Punjab Legislative Council from 1929 to 1937 and member of Punjab Legislative Assembly from 1937 to 1958. His uncles Raja Sajjad Akbar and Raja Riaz Ahemad Khan have also remained members of Provincial and National Assemblies from late eighties till date.

He completed his schooling from Aitchison College in 1991 and proceeded to the United States to attend College.He graduated from the University of Florida[3] and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer & Information Systems.[4]

After graduation he worked in a software company in Florida, USA for a while but then moved back to Pakistan in 1998. In 1999, he founded Myers College at Kot Sarfraz Khan in Chakwal.

Political career

He joined Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in 2013.

He ran for the seat of the National Assembly of Pakistan as a candidate of PTI from Constituency NA-60 (Chakwal-I) in 2013 Pakistani general election but was unsuccessful. He received 48,076 votes and lost the seat to Tahir Iqbal.[5]

In 2018, he had applied for PTI ticket to contest for Constituency NA-64 (Chakwal-I). The allotment of ticket to Yassir Humayun caused rift in PTI's chapter in Chakwal. It was noted that at-least 3 PTI workers had applied for a ticket for Constituency PP-21 (Chakwal-I) but PTI decided to allocate the ticket to Yassir Humayun who had not even applied for the ticket.

He was elected to the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab as a candidate of PTI from Constituency PP-21 (Chakwal-I) in the 2018 general election.[6]

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 higher education with the additional ministerial portfolio of tourism.[7]

Additional portfolio of Provincial Minister of Punjab for Tourism was taken back from him on 19 July 2019, however he was given the additional portfolio of Punjab Information Technology on July 22, 2019.

Following the May 9 riots and the perceived attack on Pakistan's institutions by PTI workers, like many other party notables he left PTI and politics in general.[8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Profile . www.pap.gov.pk . Punjab Assembly . 16 September 2018 . en.
  2. Web site: Raja Sarfraz Khan — an unusual feudal. Nabeel Anwar. Dhakku. 22 February 2015. DAWN.COM.
  3. News: Dhakku . Nabeel Anwar . Differences in PTI Chakwal deepen over award of ticket for PP-21 . 8 August 2018 . DAWN.COM . 22 June 2018.
  4. News: PhD, MSc degree holders in Federal and Provincial cabinets of PTI government . 1 September 2018 . Dunya News.
  5. Web site: 2013 election result . ECPaccessdate=8 August 2018.
  6. Web site: Election Results 2018 - Constituency Details . www.thenews.com.pk . The News . 29 July 2018 . en.
  7. News: Malik . Mansoor . Punjab cabinet sworn in: Only 15 out of 23 ministers given portfolios . 28 August 2018 . DAWN.COM . 28 August 2018.
  8. Web site: 30 May 2023 . Ex-MPA Raja Yasir Humayun among other notables quit politics . Dunya News.