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Raja Pervaiz Ashraf

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Raja Pervaiz Ashraf
راجہ پرویز اشرف
Ashraf in 2013
21st Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan
In office
16 April 2022 – 1 March 2024
DeputyZahid Akram Durrani
Preceded byAsad Qaiser
Succeeded byAyaz Sadiq
19th Prime Minister of Pakistan
In office
22 June 2012 – 24 March 2013
PresidentAsif Ali Zardari
DeputyChaudhry Pervaiz Elahi
Preceded byYusuf Raza Gilani
Succeeded byMir Hazar Khan Khoso
Minister for Water and Power
In office
31 March 2008 – 9 February 2011
Prime MinisterYusuf Raza Gilani
Preceded byLiaquat Ali Jatoi
Succeeded byNaveed Qamar
Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan
In office
29 February 2024 – 25 October 2024
ConstituencyNA-52 Rawalpindi-I
In office
13 August 2018 – 10 August 2023
ConstituencyNA-58 (Rawalpindi-II)
In office
2008–2013
ConstituencyNA-51 Rawalpindi-II
Personal details
Born (1950-12-26) 26 December 1950 (age 73)
Sanghar, Sindh, Pakistan
Political partyPPP (1990–present)
SpouseNusrat Pervaiz Ashraf[1]
Children4[2]
Alma materUniversity of Sindh
OccupationAgriculturist, businessman

Raja Pervaiz Ashraf (Urdu: راجہ پرویز اشرف; born 26 December 1950) is a Punjabi Pakistani politician, businessman and agriculturist who served as the 19th Prime Minister of Pakistan from June 2012 to March 2013[3][4] and as the Speaker of the National Assembly from April 2022 to March 2024. Ashraf was a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan from NA-58 (Rawalpindi-II). He has also served as the Senior Vice President of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), an alliance of political parties opposed to Imran Khan's PTI party.[5]

Prior to being elevated as prime minister, he served as the Minister for Water and Power in the Yousaf Raza Gillani-led government from March 2008 to February 2011.[6] A senior-ranking leader in the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) from Rawalpindi District, Ashraf assumed premiership on 22 June 2012 after Yousaf Raza Gillani was disqualified over contempt of court charges. Shortlisted by the PPP as a candidate for the post, he was eventually elected based on a 211–89 vote in the National Assembly.

Tackling the corruption scandals, one of the major achievements during his premiership was his interest to develop and implement hydro projects in particular the 970-MW Neelum-Jhelum project. The project had received a big jolt when the Chinese Exim Bank refused to release a $448 million loan linking it to the restoration of the Safe City Project in Islamabad which was stopped by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.[7] During his tenure Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) launched a number of mega and medium-sized projects in Gilgit–Baltistan.[8]

Personal life and childhood

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Raja Pervaiz Ashraf was born to a Punjabi Muslim family on 26 December 1950 in Sanghar, Sindh.[9] Ashraf belongs to the Minhas clan of Pakhral and is originally from Gujar Khan, an industrial town in the Rawalpindi District of the Potohar region in northern Punjab.[10][11] The Potohar region is home to numerous prominent political and military personalities.[12][13][14][15] Ashraf comes from a middle class Punjabi speaking family of landowners who have had a traditional background in politics. An uncle of his served as a minister in the cabinet of Ayub Khan during the 1960s.[11][12][13] His parents owned agricultural land in the town of Sanghar in Sindh, where he was born and brought up.[11]

He graduated from the University of Sindh in 1970 and was involved in agriculture before entering politics.[9][10] He is married to Nusrat Pervaiz Ashraf[1][16] and has four children, which include two sons and two daughters.[2][10] Ashraf is multilingual and can fluently speak English, Urdu, Punjabi and Sindhi.[17]

Early political career

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He is regarded as an important PPP loyalist and leader in the Rawalpindi region. He contested parliamentary elections in 1990, 1993 and 1997. He won in elections held in 2002 and then in 2008, following which he was appointed as federal minister for water, and as power minister in the cabinet of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani.[11]

Raja Ashraf on a hoarding

Member of Parliament

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Ashraf has been twice elected Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan (MNA) from his constituency of Gujar Khan, Rawalpindi District.[9] He won re-election in the February 2008 elections. During his time as an MNA, he served as a member of the Standing Committee on Kashmir and the Standing Committee on Law, Justice and Human Rights.[10] Before his ascendance to the post of prime minister, he was also the secretary general of the PPP.[2]

Water and Power ministry

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Raja Pervez Ashraf in 2013

He became the head of the Water and Power Ministry in the coalition government of PPP, PML-N, ANP, JUI-F and MQM formed after the 2008 elections.[18] During his tenure as power minister, there was a chronic shortage of electricity generation throughout the country and power cuts (load shedding) remained frequent. In the position, he faced heavy criticism for repeatedly promising the country's power crisis would be over "by 2008" as the country suffered regular blackouts.[19] He became one of the most sought after ministers in the National Assembly, by legislators who demanded answers for the power crisis.[20] According to a report on his parliamentary performance, the water and power ministry while Ashraf was in-charge received as many as 1,147 official questions and queries, of which only 60% were responded to.[citation needed]

The report opined that Ashraf's performance as minister was "tainted by failures to overcome the power shortfall that continued to aggravate even after he was replaced" and that his actions and responses both inside and outside the National Assembly had "not been translated into actions"[11] Nevertheless, about 3,570 megawatts of power was added to the national grid during the PPP government, a major portion of which came during Ashraf's term in office. His term is said to have overseen relatively more megawatts being added to the national grid when compared to other ministers of power and energy since Benazir Bhutto's last government.[11] He was accused of receiving kickbacks in the rental power projects, and of using illegal money to buy foreign property.[9] Ashraf denied the charges, and as of June 2012, was defending himself before the Supreme Court.[9] No official charges have been framed against him as no evidence could be presented so far.[citation needed]

One of the main reasons for power crisis, which have never received due attention and focus is the circular debt and which continued to increase over the years. The government has time and again tried to clear the circular debt, however it comes again. This is because of the structural issues including power theft, poor recovery from other government departments, difference between cost of generation and actual cost charged to customer.[21] During Ashraf's government prioritised hydro power projects in particular Neelum Jhelum 970 MW. During his term, WAPDA initiated several hydro projects in Gilgit Baltistan (GB) including the Satpara Dam having 17 MW power generation capacity and 0.093 million acre feetwater storage capacity and Diamer-Bhasha Dam having 4,500 MW power generation capacity and 8.1 million acre feet water storage capacity, along with hydropower projects of 7,100 MW Bunji, 34 MW Harpo, 80 MW Phandar and 40 MW Basho.[8]

Hydro power is the cheapest energy source and as Minister and PM he gave special attention, however hydro power projects take long time to complete and the electricity from the projects will be available after 10 years. To resolve short term energy crisis, Ashraf implemented power project on rental basis, following the rental policy approved in Mushrrafs tenure. However the projects became controversial.[citation needed]

Prime Minister of Pakistan

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Election as Prime Minister

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On 26 April 2012, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani was convicted of being in contempt of court for refusing to bring charges against President Asif Ali Zardari. On 19 June 2012, Gillani was retroactively ruled ineligible to hold the office by the Supreme Court. The ruling Pakistan People's Party nominated textile minister Makhdoom Shahabuddin to replace Gillani, but the nomination failed when the Anti-Narcotics Force issued a warrant for Shahabuddin's arrest on drug charges.[19] Ashraf was then selected as the party's next option.[19]

On 22 June 2012, Raja Pervez Ashraf was elected Prime Minister of Pakistan[3][19][22] Ashraf and his cabinet were sworn in on the same day.[23] His selection as Prime Minister restored the country's government after several days of turmoil where officially the country was without a government.[19] The Associated Press said Ashraf's election was "unlikely to calm the tensions roiling the country" and noted that many observers expected him to eventually be ousted like his predecessor.[19] Political analyst Raza Rumi said Ashraf was likely chosen by the PPP because they knew he would not last long.[19] On 24 July 2012, the government informed the Supreme Court, one day before expiry of the court's deadline, that it had not taken a decision on reopening of the graft cases against President Zardari.[24]

←2008 22 June 2012 2013→
Candidate Party Votes Obtained
Required majority → 172 out of 342
Raja Pervaiz Ashraf Pakistan Peoples Party 211 checkY
Mehtab Abbasi Pakistan Muslim League (N) 89 ☒N
Abstentions <42

Socioeconomic challenges

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Immediately after his election, Ashraf said that the economy, inflation, and the country's power crisis would be his top concerns. "Our country cannot afford politics of confrontation at this time," he said.[19] Within 24 hours of being elected, Ashraf held a meeting to resolve the energy crisis in the country and directed the Ministry of Petroleum to ensure the supply of 28,000 tonnes of fuel daily to power plants, so as to add 1200 mega watts to the national grid system.[25] There were power protests erupting throughout the country for continual load shedding.[26] The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) was critical of this renewed focus on energy, calling it a "useless effort" with the president of PEW, Murtaza Mughal, remarking that load shedding had only "increased in the harrowing summer", making life difficult for the ordinary citizen; Mughal further noted that the announcement of adding more fuel into independent power producers had been portrayed positively, despite the fact that the actual problem did not lie in scarcity of fuel but rather in non-payment of dues.[27] Businesspeople and economists in Pakistan had a mixed response to Ashraf's appointment; while some appreciated the prime minister's focus on the energy crisis and hoped for greater cooperation between key institutions and political parties as being good for economic stability, others questioned his reputation related to rental power and expressed anxiety over the government's ongoing clash with the judiciary which could cause uncertainty and scare businesses away. A government official praised the smooth transition of power and said that the country's economic policy would stay the same, adding that the government's economic team will carry on with implementing the budget and other economic functions as present before Gillani's disqualification.[28]

As an initiative to overcome the energy crises, Ashraf announced his intention to build several small dams across the country. He said that these projects would start from his native Potohar plateau, as part of a development programme for the Potohar region.[29] Apart from energy, he identified the deteriorating law and order situation of Karachi, especially with regards to target killings, as a second major challenge.[30]

In September 2012, during his maiden trip to Gilgit-Baltistan, Ashraf announced a Rs. 2 billion development package for the region.[31]

On 12 July 2012, The Supreme Court in its NRO implementation case order has ruled that Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf must write the letter to Swiss authorities to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.[32]

On 25 July 2012, The Supreme Court gave Raja Pervaiz Ashraf to 8 August 2012 to implement its order by writing a letter to Swiss authorities to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zradari.[33]

On 8 August 2012, the supreme court adjourned the hearing till 18 September 2012.[citation needed]

Political developments

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Three days after his election, Ashraf visited Nine Zero and met with leaders of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement in Karachi. He also visited the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (F). The visits were seen as part of a fresh move to reaffirm ties with coalition political parties.[34] The first significant milestone Ashraf performed after taking charge of his office was an approval for the creation of a post of Deputy Prime Minister of Pakistan to fulfill a demand of the coalition party Pakistan Muslim League (Q) (PML-Q). The post was inaugurated on 25 June and Chaudhry Pervez Elahi of PML-Q was appointed as the first deputy prime minister of the country.[35] However, the position is largely symbolic and has no legal constitutional duties.

On 27 June 2012, the Supreme Court of Pakistan gave prime minister Ashraf two weeks to indicate whether he would ask Swiss authorities to reopen corruption cases against president Zardari.[36] However, Ashraf stated that his position on the issue was no different from that of previous prime minister Gillani.[37] In the first week of July, he directed attention on the Balochistan conflict and called for a high-level meeting to discuss the issue of missing persons in the province.[38] In the first week of July, Ashraf announced the government's plans to establish legislation which would remove the bar on dual nationality holders from contesting in elections. If passed, the legislation would enable Overseas Pakistanis holding dual nationalities eligible to participate in elections and hold public office. The enforcement of such a legislation remains a controversial issue.[39] He made a visit to Peshawar a few days later, where he met local politicians, during which he expressed his views on the parliament being "the mother of all institutions".[40] He has praised the role of democracy in creating an "independent media, judiciary and parliament." He further paid tribute to the Pakistan Army in its role in the War on Terror and military operations in the troubled northwestern areas.[41]

In the fraud case against Asif Ali Zardari, he indicated in September 2012 that he would be willing to open the pending fraud cases.[42]

Foreign policy

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When commenting on foreign policy after assuming premiership, Ashraf said that he wanted to deal with the United States on "an equal footing".[19] However, he will likely have to deal with the court's demands to charge Zardari before doing much else.[19] Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India congratulated Ashraf shortly after his election, and anticipated greater progress in bilateral relations between the two countries during Ashraf's term.[43] The Chinese government greeted Ashraf and pledged closer ties with Pakistan to strengthen their "all-weather friendship".[44] Other notable messages of congratulation came from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Afghan president Hamid Karzai.[45][46]

On 24 June 2012, several Tehrik-i-Taliban militants from Afghanistan entered Pakistan's bordering tribal areas killing 13 Pakistani troops, of which seven were beheaded. During the conflict, Pakistani troops killed fourteen of the raiding militants. The attack, one of several such cross-border skirmishes, was strongly condemned with Raja Pervaiz Ashraf stating that the matter would be directly taken to Afghan president Hamid Karzai.[47][48][49]

Regarding his stand on the Kashmir conflict with India, Ashraf has categorically stated that Pakistan would continue providing moral, political, and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people of Jammu and Kashmir until a solution was to be reached for the issue in accordance with UN resolutions and Kashmiri aspirations.[50][51]

Ashraf is expected to visit Kabul, Afghanistan, to hold talks with the Afghan leadership on the peace process in Afghanistan amidst the ongoing Afghan war and to discuss the status of Afghan-led reconciliation with the Afghan Taliban. The visit comes at a time when Pakistan's relations with the United States have improved in the aftermath of the 2011 NATO attack.[52] On 15 July, he performed a two-day state visit to Saudi Arabia, his first official tour since becoming prime minister. During the visit, he would perform Umrah, meet with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, discuss the status of relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and also meet members of the Pakistani community in Saudi Arabia.[53]

On his visit to Kabul, Afghanistan, in late July 2012, Ashraf met with Karzai government officials and engaged in talks with the two main opposition leaders Abdullah Abdullah from the National Coalition of Afghanistan and Ahmad Zia Massoud from the National Front of Afghanistan. Among other things they discussed the need for increased and regular dialogue between leaders of Afghanistan and Pakistan.[54]

On 30 March, the apex court had directed the National Accountability Bureau to proceed against those who were in the post of minister for water and power from 2006 till the next general elections. As a result, on 20 April, NAB issued arrest warrants for 33 persons, including Ashraf.[55]

Post-premiership

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On 16 April 2022, Ashraf was elected unopposed as the 22nd Speaker of the National Assembly.[56]

Controversies

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Arrest order

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On 15 January 2013, the Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered the arrest of Raja Pervaiz Ashraf for alleged corruption as Ashraf was accused of kickbacks from rental power plants that were part of a project intended to serve as part of the solution to Pakistan's power problems.[57] The media derided Raja Pervaiz Ashraf as Rental Raja.[58] The arrest order came at the same time as the Long March culminated in the national capital of Islamabad. None of the accused in the rental case has been convicted so far. The rental power case is pending with independent Supreme court for nearly four years and no conviction has been made. Ashraf has time and again demanded clearance of his name and denies all the charges. Ashraf in his appearance in the Supreme Court categorically denied such charges and offered his complete cooperation with all authorities and courts. A member of the ruling Pakistan People's Party referred to the arrest order as "a conspiracy" while Pakistan's interior minister Rehman Malik, claimed that "Even after this order, (Ashraf) is the prime minister and, God willing, he will continue as prime minister."[59] The accountability court in Islamabad indicted former Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf and six others in the rental power case on 16 January 2014.[60]

Nepotism

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Raja Pervez Ashraf appointed his son-in-law Raja Azeem in World Bank (Executive Director-Pakistan and others) in violation of rules and an example of Nepotism prevalent in Pakistani political elite.[61]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "There's no shame in wearing a hijab". The Express Tribune. 16 September 2012. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
  2. ^ a b c "Raja Pervez Ashraf". Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Archived from the original on 16 June 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
  3. ^ a b "Raja Pervez Ashraf declared new Pakistani PM". DAWN. 22 June 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  4. ^ "FORMER PRIME MINISTERS". pmo.gov.pk.
  5. ^ "PDM issues new schedule of public gatherings across country". 24 News HD. 5 October 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  6. ^ Malik, Sajjad. "24-member federal cabinet takes oath". Daily Times. Retrieved 1 April 2008.
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  8. ^ a b "PPP govt pursuing multi-pronged strategy for GB development". Pakistan Observer. 6 March 2013. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  9. ^ a b c d e "Profile: Raja Pervaiz Ashraf". DAWN. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  10. ^ a b c d "Who is Raja Pervez Ashraf?". The Times of India. 22 June 2012. Retrieved 5 July 2012.[dead link‍]
  11. ^ a b c d e f Raja Pervez Ashraf: the new leader, Daily Times.
  12. ^ a b "With Ashraf's nomination, Potoharis secure key posts in country". Dawn. 22 June 2012. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  13. ^ a b "Illustrious sons of Potohar". Dawn. 4 May 2012.
  14. ^ "Barren Potohar, the cradle of leaders, good and bad". The News. Archived from the original on 23 June 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  15. ^ Joshua, Anita. "Manmohan, new Pak PM from same region". The Hindu.
  16. ^ "First lady urges women to wear hijab". Daily Times. 16 September 2012. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
  17. ^ "Profile: Raja Pervez Ashraf". BBC News. 22 June 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  18. ^ Wasim, Amir. "Parties finally clinch deal on key ministries". DAWN. Retrieved 29 March 2008.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Santana, Rebecca; Brummitt, Chris; Khan, Zarar (22 June 2012). "Raja Pervaiz Ashraf Is Pakistan's New Prime Minister". HuffPost. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 3 August 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  20. ^ "As water and power czar, Ashraf was the most sought after minister in NA". The Express Tribune. 24 June 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
  21. ^ "Pakistan's energy crisis Power politics". The Economist. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  22. ^ "Raja Pervez Ashraf elected new PM of Pakistan". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 22 June 2012.
  23. ^ "Raja Pervaiz to be sworn in tonight". The News International. 22 June 2012.
  24. ^ "After Gilani, Ashraf defies Pak SC order to reopen case against Zardari". 24 July 2012.
  25. ^ "Ensure 28000 tonnes per day fuel to power plants: Ashraf". The Express Tribune. 23 June 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  26. ^ "Power protesters block roads as PM visits Peshawar". The News. 5 July 2012. Archived from the original on 11 July 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  27. ^ "Energy woes: PM's efforts unproductive, says PEW". The Express Tribune. 5 July 2012. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
  28. ^ "Business community expects no wonders from PM Raja". Gulf Times. 3 July 2012. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
  29. ^ "PM Ashraf wants small dams to meet power needs". The Express Tribune. 8 July 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  30. ^ "Energy, Karachi security major challenges: PM". Pakistan Today. 26 June 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  31. ^ "PM announces Rs 2b package for G-B". The Express Tribune. 29 September 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  32. ^ "SC orders PM Ashraf to write letter". The News International. 12 July 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  33. ^ "NRO: PM ordered to write letter by Aug 8". The News International. 25 July 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  34. ^ "PM Ashraf visits Nine Zero, Kingri House during Karachi visit". Dawn. 25 June 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  35. ^ "PML-Q's demands fulfilled; Elahi made Deputy PM, 15 ministries granted". Dawn. 25 June 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  36. ^ "SC wants Swiss letter by PM in two weeks". Pak Observer. 28 June 2012. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
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  38. ^ "High-level meeting on missing persons' issue today". Dunya News. 3 July 2012. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
  39. ^ "Govt will bring law to allow dual nationals contest elections: PM". Daily Times. 2 July 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
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  45. ^ "Hillary Clinton calls PM Raja Pervaiz". Dawn. 1 June 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  46. ^ "President Karzai Congratulates Pakistan's New Prime Minister". Office of the President of Afghanistan. 23 June 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
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  49. ^ "Cross-border attacks high on agenda for Ashraf's Afghanistan tour". The Express Tribune. 18 July 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  50. ^ "Pakistan to continue support to Kashmir cause: PM Raja Pervez Ashraf". The Times of India. 6 July 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2012.[dead link‍]
  51. ^ Nizami, A. H. (19 July 2012). "PM Ashraf calls for resolving tensions with India". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  52. ^ "PM Ashraf to visit Kabul to expedite peace efforts". The Express Tribune. 10 July 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  53. ^ "GeoTV Geo News Latest News Breaking News Pakistan Live Videos". geo.tv. Archived from the original on 19 July 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  54. ^ Ashraf in Kabul Archived 22 January 2013 at archive.today
  55. ^ "Rental power case: Supreme Court orders to arrest Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf". The News Tribe. Archived from the original on 21 January 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  56. ^ "PPP's Raja Pervaiz Ashraf elected NA speaker". Dawn. 16 April 2022.
  57. ^ Rodriguez, Alex (15 January 2013). "Pakistani Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf ordered arrested". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  58. ^ "Pakistani News | Stories | Politics | Talk Shows | Current Affairs | Awaz.tv". www.awaztoday.com. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  59. ^ Habib, Nasir; Mullen, Jethro (15 January 2013). "Pakistani Supreme Court orders arrest of prime minister in corruption case". CNN. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  60. ^ "Raja Pervez Ashraf indicted in rental power case". The Nation. 17 January 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  61. ^ "PM appoints son-in-law to key World Bank post". The Express Tribune. 15 December 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
[edit]
Political offices
Preceded by Minister for Water and Power
2008–2011 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Prime Minister of Pakistan
2012–2013 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan
2022–2024 		Succeeded by
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