Aleem Khan
President of the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party
Assumed office
12 June 2023
Preceded byPosition established
Provincial Minister of Punjab for Food
In office
13 April 2020 – 26 November 2021
GovernorChaudhry Mohammad Sarwar
Chief MinisterUsman Buzdar
Provincial Minister of Punjab for Local Governments and Community Development
In office
27 August 2018 – 6 February 2019
GovernorChaudhry Mohammad Sarwar
Chief MinisterUsman Buzdar
Provincial Minister of Punjab for Planning and Development
In office
27 August 2018 – 6 February 2019
GovernorChaudhry Mohammad Sarwar
Chief MinisterUsman Buzdar
Provincial Minister of Punjab for Information Technology
In office
2003–2007
GovernorKhalid Maqbool
Chief MinisterChaudhry Pervaiz Elahi
Member of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab
In office
15 August 2018 – 20 May 2022
SpeakerChaudhry Pervaiz Elahi
Succeeded byMian Akram Usman
ConstituencyPP-158 (Lahore-XV)
In office
2002–2007
ConstituencyPP-147 (Lahore-XI)
Personal details
Born (1970-03-05) 5 March 1970
Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Political party IPP (2023–present)
Other political
affiliations		 PTI (2012–2022)
PML-Q (2002–2012)

Abdul Aleem Khan (born 5 March 1970) is a Pakistani politician and businessman from Lahore. Abdul Aleem Khan owns Samaa TV and Vision Group. He was also the Senior Minister of Punjab and Minister of Food from 2020 to 2021. He also served as a member of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab from August 2018 to 2021. He announced his separation from politics on Twitter in a tweet.[1] Later in a statement to the media, he said that he had no intentions of joining politics again and that he would focus on the welfare work done through the Abdul Aleem Khan Foundation but soon after the economic crisis and instability in Pakistan, he decided to join politics again and launched the political party along with renowned politician Jahangir Khan Tareen named the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party in June 2023 to help the nation. He is a founding member and president of the party.[2][3][4]

He functioned as Minister for Local Government & Community Development during 2018-19 and as Senior Minister for Food from 2019-21 under Imran Khan's government but stepped down after his arrest in a corruption case involving offshore companies in the Panama Leaks and assets beyond means.[5] He was a member of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab from 2003 to 2007 and also served as Provincial Minister for Information Technology of Punjab for the same period despite having no formal education or previous experience in the sector.

Early life and education

Aleem Khan was born on 5 March 1970 in Lahore, Pakistan.[6][7] He hails from a Pashtun family of the Kakazai tribe while his wife, Kiran Aleem Khan, is Punjabi Jat.[8]

He received his early education from Crescent Model Higher Secondary School, Lahore.

He graduated from the Government College University, Lahore in 1992 and has a degree of Bachelor of Arts.[7][9]

Business career

Aleem Khan is the owner of Vision Group, a real estate development company in Pakistan owning ventures such as Park View City Lahore and Islamabad, Samaa TV and CineStar Lahore and Multan.

Political career

Abdul Aleem Khan made his political debut in 2002 and contested for the seat of the National Assembly of Pakistan as a candidate of Pakistan Muslim League (Q) (PML-Q) from Constituency NA-127 (Lahore-X) in 2002 Pakistani general election but was unsuccessful.[10] He received 20,545 votes and lost the seat to Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri.[11]

He was elected to the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab as a candidate of PML-Q from Constituency PP-147 (Lahore-XI) in the by-elections held in January 2003[12] He received 18,059 votes and defeated Ameer ul Azim, a candidate of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA).[11] On 15 November 2003, he was inducted into the provincial Punjab cabinet of Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi[13] and was appointed as Provincial Minister of Punjab for Information Technology.[7] He remained as the Provincial Minister for Information Technology of Punjab till 2007.[14][9]

He contested for the seat of the National Assembly as a candidate of PML-Q from Constituency NA-127 (Lahore-X) in 2008 Pakistani general election but was unsuccessful.[10] In the same election, he also contested for the seat of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab as a candidate of PML-Q from Constituency PP-147 (Lahore-XI) but was unsuccessful.[10] He received 9,493 votes and lost the seat to Mohsin Latif.[15]

In January 2012, he quit PML-Q and joined Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).[16] In February 2013, he was elected as Deputy President of PTI Lahore but was not given ticket by PTI to contest in 2013 Pakistani general election.[17][18][19]

He contested for the seat of the National Assembly as a candidate of PTI from Constituency NA-122 (Lahore-V) in by-election held in October 2015 but was unsuccessful. He received 72,043 votes and lost the seat to Sardar Ayaz Sadiq.[20] He filed a petition with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to challenge the results of the by-election. He alleged rigging took place in the constituency, claimed to have evidence and submitted a plea to the Supreme Court.[21] The plea was not accepted and Aleem Khan was booked for submitting fake affidavits he claimed were proof.[22] In July 2016, PTI appointed him as the president of the party's Central Punjab Chapter.[23]

He was elected to the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab as a candidate of PTI from Constituency PP-158 (Lahore-XV) in 2018 Pakistani general election.[24]

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 Local Government and Community Development. He was given the status of a senior minister in the cabinet.[25][26]

In February 2019, he was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for multiple inquiries, including one involving offshore company Hexam Investment Overseas Ltd, one for owning assets beyond his known sources of income, and inquiries into his questionable business practices related to his housing societies.[27] The probe was on his housing societies was later closed but the income beyond means inquiry was not.[28][29] The same day, he announced his resignation as Provincial Minister of Punjab for Local Government and Community Development.[30] The Lahore High Court granted bail to Aleem Khan and on 13 April 2020, he was again appointed to the Provincial Cabinet as the Senior Minister of Punjab and Provincial Minister of Punjab for Food but resigned in November 2021.[31][32]

On 20 May 2022, he was de-seated after he voted against his own party chairman, Imran Khan, in a no-confidence motion on 16 April 2022, stating that he would "unconditionally support the opposition".[33] After backlash, Aleem Khan in a tweet announced that he would retire from politics but soon backtracked on his statement and helped form the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party in June 2023.[1][34] He is a founding member and was appointed as president of the party.[35]

Criticism

Aleem Khan lost the 2015 by-election for the National Assembly due to alleged rigging. He submitted a petition with the Election Commission of Pakistan with evidence, but it was not accepted.[36]

On 6 February 2019, the National Accountability Bureau arrested Aleem Khan for owning assets beyond known sources of income within Pakistan and abroad.[5][37]

On 6 November 2022, the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) filed an FIR against Aleem Khan, his wife, and his daughter for alleged document forgery in a land sale case.[38][39] The National Accountability Bureau later dropped the charges.[40]

Aleem Khan's societies, Park View City Lahore and Park View City Islamabad were declared illegal in 2020 and 2022 respectively by the Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA) and the Islamabad High Court.[41][39] The National Accountability Bureau later stopped pursuing the case due to a lack of evidence.[28] The Capital Development Authority (CDA) also restored a No Objection Certificate (NOC) with regard to the Parkview City.[29]

Aleem Khan made two financial transactions of Rs 198 million and Rs 140 million during his tenure as Provincial Minister of Punjab for Information Technology between 2002 and 2007.[42] According to documents submitted to the Election Commission of Pakistan in 2018, Aleem Khan declared his assets worth Rs. 918 million (US$3.2 million), most of which he funnelled through loans from his own company.[43][44]

References

  1. 1 2 @abdul_aleemkhan (26 November 2021). "وزیراعظم عمران خان سے آج ھونے والی ملاقات میں اُنہیں قائل کیا ھے اپنے نیوز چینل سماء نیوز کے حوالے سے غیر جانبداری قائم رکھنے کے لئے ضروری ھے میرے پاس کوئی حکومتی عہدہ نہ ھو لہذا وہ بطور سینئر وزیر/وزیر خوراک حکومت پنجاب اب میرا استعفی قبول فرما لیں۔ 1/2" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. ↑ "I am pleased to announce Abdul Aleem Khan as the President of Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party. Aamir Mehmood Kiyani as Secretary General. Awn Chaudhary as Additional Secretary General & Spokesperson of the Party as well as of the Patron-in-Chief. More announcements to follow Inshallah'".
  3. ↑ "Aleem, Awn Chaudhry dismiss reports of forming 'new party'".
  4. ↑ "Jahangir Tareen launches 'grandiose' Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party'". 8 June 2023.
  5. 1 2 "PTI's Aleem Khan arrested by NAB". The Express Tribune. 6 February 2019. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  6. ↑ "Biography". www.aleemkhan.pk. Abdul Aleem Khan. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  7. 1 2 3 "Profile". www.pap.gov.pk. Punjab Assembly. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  8. ↑ Warraich, Suhail (2 August 2018). "Choosing right person for Punjab CM real test for Imran". The News International. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  9. 1 2 "Who will be the next chief minister of Punjab?". Geo News. 2 August 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  10. 1 2 3 "'Q' losers lobbying for PTI ticket from Lahore". The News. 23 August 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  11. 1 2 "2002 election result" (PDF). ECP. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 January 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  12. ↑ "PML-Q wins PP-147 bypoll". DAWN.COM. 27 January 2003. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  13. ↑ "15 ministers take oath in Punjab". DAWN.COM. 25 November 2003. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  14. ↑ "Aleem Khan to donate salary as minister to Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital". Daily Pakistan Global. 27 August 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  15. ↑ "2008 election result" (PDF). ECP. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 January 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  16. ↑ "Ex-PML-Q minister quits party, may join PTI". The News. 2 January 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  17. ↑ "Aleem Khan gets choice ticket after two years". The News. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  18. ↑ "Aleem Khan elected PTI District President Lahore". www.pakistantoday.com.pk. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  19. ↑ "PML-Q's Aleem Khan joins PTI". Pakistan Today. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  20. ↑ Mahmood, Amjad (12 October 2015). "Ayaz Sadiq retakes NA-122, but PML-N loses provincial assembly seat to PTI". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  21. ↑ Khan, Raza (26 November 2015). "NA-122 by-poll: Aleem Khan files petition alleging 'technical rigging'". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  22. ↑ "PTI's Aleem Khan submitted fake affidavits in NA-122 poll fraud case, blames ECP". Daily Pakistan Global. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  23. ↑ "New leadership: PTI appoints Aleem Khan as its central Punjab president | The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 27 July 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  24. ↑ Malik, Mansoor (27 July 2018). "PTI sets its sights on ruling Punjab". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  25. ↑ Malik, Mansoor (28 August 2018). "Punjab cabinet sworn in: Only 15 out of 23 ministers given portfolios". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  26. ↑ "Aleem Khan steps away from business before taking oath as minister". www.pakistantoday.com.pk. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  27. ↑ Waqar, Ali (6 February 2019). "Senior minister Aleem Khan taken into custody by NAB Lahore". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  28. 1 2 "NAB closes probe into Aleem's housing case". August 2023.
  29. 1 2 "CDA restores Parkview housing scheme's NOC". 6 December 2022.
  30. ↑ "Aleem Khan resigns from ministry: family sources". www.thenews.com.pk. 6 February 2019. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  31. ↑ "PM Imran accepts Abdul Aleem Khan's resignation". 26 November 2021.
  32. ↑ "PTI's Aleem Khan gets bail relief". 15 May 2019.
  33. ↑ Web Desk (30 March 2022). "Like nine pins: Aleem Khan-led faction announces support for opposition". Aaj English TV. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  34. ↑ "Jahangir Tareen launches 'grandiose' Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party". 8 June 2023.
  35. ↑ "I am pleased to announce Abdul Aleem Khan as the President of Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party. Aamir Mehmood Kiyani as Secretary General. Awn Chaudhary as Additional Secretary General & Spokesperson of the Party as well as of the Patron-in-Chief". 12 June 2023.
  36. ↑ "PTI's Aleem Khan submitted fake affidavits in NA-122 poll fraud case, blames ECP". February 2016.
  37. ↑ "Pakistan arrests ruling party member on corruption charges". Arab News. 6 February 2019. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  38. ↑ "ACE Punjab books Aleem Khan for using forged documents to sell state-owned land". www.geo.tv. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  39. 1 2 "ACE books Aleem Khan in govt land sale case". 7 November 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  40. ↑ "NAB shuts housing society project probe against Aleem Khan".
  41. ↑ "RUDA declares former Minister's housing society illegal". Pakistan Observer. 15 October 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  42. ↑ "Aleem's counsel says complete money trail provided to NAB". The News. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  43. ↑ "PTI's Aleem Khan owns assets worth over Rs918 million". Geo News. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  44. ↑ "PTI's Aleem Khan declares massive assets". ARYNEWS. 22 June 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
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