Babar Awan

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Babar Awan
ظہیر الدین بابر اعوان
Moula Bakhsh Chandio
Personal details
Born
Zaheer-ud-din Babar Awan

(1952-01-27) 27 January 1952 (age 72)
Islamabad, Pakistan
CitizenshipPakistani
Political partyPTI (2017-present)
Other political
affiliations		PPP (1997-2017)
RelationsGhulam Farooq Awan (brother)
Sitara-e-Imtiaz
(2012)
Supreme Court of Pakistan

Zaheer-ud-din Babar Awan (

Punjab Province from 2012 to 2017.[1]
Later he joined PTI to serve as Member Executive Council of PTI.

He regularly writes and publishes on left-wing philosophy.[1] He extensively writes political columns in a leading Urdu newspaper, the Daily Jang, in support of social democracy and social justice.[2][3]

Early life and education

Babar Awan matriculated in 1971 and attended the Punjab University to study humanities.[4] In 1975, Awan graduated with a B.A. in Humanities, and later obtained Master of Science in Economics from the Punjab University in 1978.[4]

In 1980, Awan moved to

LLB in civil law in 1986.[4] He began practicing law at the Sindh High Court, initially taking criminal cases.[4]

Awan now lives in Islamabad.

Attorney General of Pakistan.[6]

Activities

Political activism and PPP

His interest in politics grew in the 1980s while studying law at the

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on PPP platform during the general elections
held in 1997.

In 2002, Awan unsuccessfully contested for the Islamabad constituency in the general elections, but conceded his defeat. In 2004, Benazir Bhutto appointed Awan as the finance secretary of the Pakistan People's Party.

In 2006, Awan successfully contested for the

19 October attack on Benazir Bhutto in Karachi, and then when Benazir Bhutto was killed in Rawalpindi. Awan was the first one to announce Bhutto's death to the Pakistani public, outside Rawalpindi General Hospital which is now known as Benazir Bhutto Hospital. Awan told the party workers outside the hospital, "I have just talked to Dr. Mussadiq, he has confirmed to me that Mohtarma (Benazir Bhutto) has been martyred."[7]

Law and Justice Ministry (2008-2011)

After successfully contesting in

Law Minister in November 2008.[8]

Over many legal issues, Awan resigned from the

Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto murder case.[9] On 2 May 2012, Awan was stripped of all his party posts by the Central Executive Committee of the PPP.[10]

After Awan's sacking, it was expected that he would join another party although he remained a member of the PPP for another five years. In early 2013, Awan met Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Imran Khan. Rumours spread that Awan would soon join the PTI.[11]

On 21 June 2017 Awan announced that he will join PTI and with immediate effect step down from his seat in Senate.

Writings and columns

In June 2012, Awan claimed that he was receiving life threats and that his family was also being threatened.[12] He asked the concerned authorities to provide him with security. In early 2013, Awan began tweeting regularly. He uses his Twitter account to make political statements and to maintain contact with his supporters. By July 2013, Awan had 34,000 followers on Twitter.[13]

In 2011, Awan published his first book called the Wakalat Nama [Urdu: وکالت نامۂ; Lawyers' diary], which was a collection of his columns and articles published in the newspapers of Pakistan from 1997 to 2009.[14] In November 2011, Awan published another book based on the arguments he made in court during the Karachi Conspiracy case.[15] The judges' bench of that case was led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

Television anchor and analyst

He is doing television programs from last many years, early he was doing an Islamic show on ATV and later he did Ikhtilafi Note on Neo TV. The show was hosted by Farwat Malik and Babar Awan participated as an analyst.[16]

2013 elections campaign

On 28 May 2013, Awan issued a statement saying that it was the right of the new government to complete its stipulated term; however, the opposition should not be of the government's choice. He added that, "the role of the opposition would now be determined in accordance with the Constitution and the rules of business as opposed to via any reconciliatory formula."[17] In July 2013, Awan criticized the Pakistan Election Commission for organizing Presidential Elections in a manner that dissatisfied the opposition political parties.

He went on to say that, "holding presidential election with the shortage of a large number of 46 law makers would result into constitutional chaos and will be a stigma on the election for the extremely distinguished constitutional office."[18] On 5 July 2012, Awan said, "there is serious power crisis and the newly elected government has to take prompt measures including construction of Kalabagh Dam." He further said before restoration of bilateral ties with India, Islamabad had to raise outstanding Kashmir and water issue.[19]

Links with other political parties

The PPP has used Awan for dialogue with other political parties. Awan is highly supported in his

Shaikh Rasheed Ahmad in his constituency.[24]
He is currently an active member of PTI.

After PTI success in Pakistan General election 2018 he was appointed as advisor to Prime Minister on parliamentary affairs,.He resigned on 4 September 2018 after NAB opened an inquiry against him,[25] however he was not proven guilty and inquiry against him was closed.

PhD claim

According to the media sources and investigative journalists accounts, Awan is said to have been awarded a PhD in criminal law from the diploma mill Monticello University based in Hawaii, United States, in 1998.[4] Controversy surrounded his law PhD also noted that the Monticello University misspelled his PhD nomination papers as "Monty Cello" from where he affirmed to have done his doctorate degree.[4]

Haris Steel case

In November 2009, National Accountability Bureau of Pakistan summoned Awan after he was accused for getting bribes worth of 30 million

Pakistani rupees from the owners of the Haris Steel Mill in order to get a favourable verdict from the court.[26] Awan was reported to have said that he had certainly not taken 30 million rupees and that the money he had taken was his professional fee.[27]
He further said that anyone was welcome to pursue any complaint in any professional body. In 2011, Sheikh Afzal, the owner of Haris Steel Mill, stated that he has been pressured by the Punjab Government to issue a statement against Awan. The charges were later dropped against Awan, due to Sheikh Afzal's statement.

Contempt of court

On 1 December 2011, Awan held a press conference in which he criticized a Supreme Court judge.

Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto case. Ali Ahmad Kurd disagreed with the Supreme Court's decision to suspend Awan's license.[31] Awan was indicted by the Supreme Court in March 2012. Awan's counsel, Ali Zafar, maintained during the hearing that the court cannot indict Awan without having made a decision on the unconditional apology he offered twice to the court. He said that the purpose of contempt of court proceedings is to maintain the respect of the judiciary not to "demean someone."[32]

Witness in contempt case

The President of Pakistan,

Aitezaz Ahsan in an interview given to Arshad Sharif for his program KYUN.[33]
Aitezaz said Babar's name was given to him by the President and PM both but Babar Awan refused to show up which irked the President.

Books

Further reading

References

  1. ^ a b "Dr. Babar Awan". Pakistan Herald. Archived from the original on 7 February 2022. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
  2. ^ Dr. Babar Awan – Urdu columns, The News, 2013, archived from the original on 7 July 2015, retrieved 11 August 2013
  3. ^ "Babar Awan to be appointed as advisor for Parliamentary Affairs – Daily Times". Dailytimes.com.pk. 13 March 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Cheema, Umar (18 February 2012). "Babar Awan finally concedes he is no doctor from any university". The News International, 2012. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  5. ^ Eik Din Babar Awan kay Sath, Youtube, 22 November 2011
  6. ^ Farooq Awan appointed Advisor to PM on Law, Pakistan Times, 22 March 2011, archived from the original on 3 November 2013
  7. ^ Babar Awan announcing death, msab73Youtube, 15 January 2008
  8. ^ Government to complete its term with will of public: Dr. Babar, Press Information Department of Government of Pakistan, 19 December 2009
  9. ^ "Babar Awan becomes PPP vice president". Dawn Media. 29 December 2011.
  10. ^ "Sidelined: Babar Awan stripped of all PPP posts". The Express Tribune. 2 May 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  11. ^ Is Babar Awan Joining PTI,Imran Khan meeting with Dr.Babar Awan!, PakistanTV, 2013
  12. ^ I am receiving life threats: Babar Awan, The News Tribe, 15 June 2012
  13. ^ @DrBabarAwan, Twitter, 2013
  14. ISBN 978-9698455538
  15. ISBN 978-9698455873
  16. ^ "Neo TV | Ikhtilafe Note". videos.neonetwork.pk. Archived from the original on 19 December 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  17. ^ Strong opposition needed at the centre: Babar Awan, LahoreTimes, 28 May 2013, archived from the original on 3 November 2013, retrieved 11 August 2013
  18. ^ Presidential elections sans 46 members a stigma: Awan, The News, 19 July 2013
  19. ^ Babar Awan for early construction of Kalabagh Dam, Geo TV, 5 July 2013
  20. ^ Babar Awan's brother joins MQM, Daily Times, 14 January 2010
  21. ^ Ahmad Fraz Khan (24 April 2011). "PPP offer puts PML-Q in a double bind". Dawn Media. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  22. ^ Awan strikes again, The Capital Post, 30 October 2010
  23. ^ Governor Sindh and Babar Awan meet, PakWatan
  24. ^ Shakeel Awan and Babar Awan, flickr, 2013
  25. ^ "Babar Awan files a petition in IHC seeking a ban on live speeches by Nawaz - Global Village Space". Global Village Space. 17 May 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  26. ^ Masood Rehman (12 December 2009). "BoP loan scam: NAB summons top lawyers over bribery charges". Pakistan Daily Times. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  27. ^ "Haris alleges political victimisation". Dawn Media. 6 June 2011. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  28. ^ Babar Awan press conference - 1st December 2011, watchPakistani, 2011
  29. ^ a b Terence J Sigamony (18 January 2012). "SC clips Babar's wings over foul flap". The Nation. Archived from the original on 25 June 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  30. ^ Order in Bhutto Reference Case, para. 5
  31. ^ 'Contempt notice to Awan regrettable', The News International, 17 January 2012, retrieved 6 July 2012
  32. ^ Contempt of Court: Sc to indict Babar Awan on Thursday, Express Tribune, March 2012
  33. ^ "KYUN". Retrieved 28 April 2012.
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