Shahzada Mohiuddin

Shahzada Mohiuddin
Member National Assembly Pakistan
In office 2008–2013
President	Asif Ali Zardari
Prime Minister	Raja Pervez Ashraf Yousaf Raza Gillani
District Nazim Chitral
In office 2001–2005
Member National Assembly Pakistan
In office 1997–1999
Minister of State for Tourism Member National Assembly Pakistan
In office 1990–1993
President	Ghulam Ishaq Khan
Prime Minister	Mian Nawaz Sharif
Member National Assembly Pakistan
In office 1985–1988
Personal details
Born	Shahzada Mohiuddin 5 August 1938 Chitral Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,
Nationality	Pakistan
Cabinet	Nawaz Sharif Government
Religion	Islam

Shahzada Mohiuddin (Urdu: شہزادہ محی الدین), grandson of Sir Shuja ul-Mulk, ^[1] is a veteran Pakistani politician, a former Federal and Provincial Minister, ^[2] and Member of National Assembly.^[3][4] He has in the past remained Minister of State for Tourism ^[5] and Chairman National Assembly Standing Committee on Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas ^[6][7] His eldest son Shahzada Iftikhar Uddin is the current MNA of Chitral.^[8]

Background

Shahzada Mohiuddin was born into the ruling family of Chitral ^[9][10] on 5 August 1938. He is the grandson of Sir Shuja ul-Mulk, the Mehtar of Chitral. His family's reign extended from 1571 to 1969, when the princely state of Chitral was incorporated completely into Pakistan.^[11] During his time at university, he was the captain of East and West Pakistan Combined Universities Football Team. He is the nephew of former Senator Burhanuddin and the father-in-law of Shahzada Masood Ul Mulk.^[12]

Political career

Shahzada Mohiuddin entered politics on the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) platform in 1972.^[13] He was elected Chairman District Council Chitral in 1983 and once again in 1987.^[14][15] Following the 1985 general elections he became a Member of the Parliament, and additionally served as Parliamentary Secretary for Communication till the dissolution of the Assembly.^[16] He lost his seat to Nusrat Bhutto ^[17] in the 1988 general elections but won the National Assembly elections again in 1990.^[18][19] Leading up to the 1990 elections he was appointed Minister for Excise and Taxation in the interim provincial government of NWFP. Following it he was appointed Minister of State for Tourism (1990–1993) in Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs cabinet.^[20][21] He was again elected as MNA in the general elections of 1997 ^[22] and served as Chairman National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Government Assurances (1997–1999). ^[23] Shahzada Mohiuddin was elected as District Nazim ^[24] of Chitral in the local body elections of 2001.^[25] He became a Member of the Parliament for the fourth time in 2008 ^{[26][27][28][29]} and was appointed Chairman National Assembly's Standing Committee on Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan. ^{[30][31][32][33]} In that capacity he was a proponent of the idea that both countries should promote trade and other means of people-to-people contacts across the Line of Control to pave way for resolving the Kashmir issue.^[34]

One of the greatest landmarks in Shahzada Mohiuddin's political career is his work on restarting the Lowari Tunnel Project which has opened avenues of progress and prosperity for the remote district.^[35][36][37] Due to its geographical situation, Chitral would remain totally cut off from the rest of the country for up to five months every winter due to heavy snowfall ^[38] on the 10,200-feet-high Lowari Pass; one of the only two land routes connecting the district to other parts of the country.^[39][40][41] Thousands of people had lost their lives while trying to cross over the Lowari pass.^[42] General Pervez Musharraf had sanctioned funds while in power for the Lowari Tunnel project for providing an all-weather road linking Chitral with the rest of Pakistan.^[43] In acknowledgement Shahzada Mohiuddin vacated his parliamentary seat in favour of the former president.^[44][45]

Throughout his career Shahzada Mohiuddin was very particular about the development of roads and establishment of power stations in the area.^[46] He was an outspoken critic of the PIA management for frequent cancellation of flights on the Peshawar-Chitral route on technical grounds.^[47] He has mentioned on record that his constituency was remote and poor, consequently he has often supported sitting governments just for securing development project and funds for his constituency.^[48]

Retirement from political life

Shahzada Mohiuddin retired from active political life after completing his term in 2013.^[49] He had dominated politics in the district for well over a quarter of a century.^[50][51] His son Shahzada Iftikhar Uddin contested the general elections in 2013 and won the National Assembly seat in Chitral.^[52]

References

1. "The Katur Dynasty Genealogy".
2. "Rs100 million additional grant approved for Chitral uplift: Muqam". AAJ News. 1 February 2007.
3. "PESCO failure". The Nation. 7 July 2009.
4. "By-Elections". Pakistan Observer. 10 August 2011.
5. "Pakistan's tourism profile at World Tourism Fair.".
6. "MNA elected NA Committee Chairman".
7. "Shujaat set to ‘punish’ PML-Q dissidents". Pakistan Today. 18 May 2011.
8. "The vote of a mountain people". The News International. 17 May 2013.
9. "Lonesome PML-N boycott against job bill". E Pakistan News. 8 October 2010.
10. "Four journalists in the election fray in NWFP". Dawn. 21 December 2007.
11. "Extreme Polo".
12. "The Katur Dynasty".
13. "Familial glory: In Chitral and Swat, what’s in a name?". The Express Tribune. 24 April 2013.
14. "PML-Q MNA from Chitral joins PPP". Dawn. 27 August 2008.
15. "Note for the record" (PDF).
16. "Members of National Assembly of Pakistan 1972 to 2007".
17. "Once cleared: Musharraf plans to hold big Chitral show". The Express Tribune. 15 April 2013.
18. "Personality main factor in Chitral". Dawn. 17 February 2008.
19. "Results of elections 1988-97".
20. "List of Members of The National Assembly".
21. "Intra-party rifts render PML-N inactive in KP". The News International. 2 February 2015.
22. "List of Members of The National Assembly".
23. "Chairmen Committies [sic]".
24. "Chitral Nazim resigns in protest". Dawn. 7 March 2004.
25. "Al Qaeda hunt leaves Chitralis stranded". Dawn. 14 January 2003.
26. "MNA elected NA Committee Chairman".
27. "Musharraf ready for Chitral battle". The Friday Times.
28. "Pakistan Election Results 2008".
29. "Chitral Shandoor Maila at 12000 ft high peak begins". GEO Sports. 7 July 2008.
30. "Chairman National Assembly Standing Committee on Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan Shahzada Mohiuddin". Pakistan State Times. 21 November 2011.
31. "Trade across LOC is a good tool to enhance inter-dependence that could lead towards Indo-Pak conflict resolution".
32. "Minerals in Chitral Lawmaker seeks lease permits for locals only". Labour Watch Pakistan. 22 August 2011.
33. "To be introduced in the National Assembly" (PDF).
34. "Increase trade to ease tension along Line of Controlle". The Express Tribune. 9 February 2011.
35. "The Lowari Tunnel".
36. "Shahzada Mohiuddin thanks the Prime Minister for 18 billion rupees for LTP".
37. "Shandur Mela Chitralis’ right: Mohiuddin". The News International. 27 May 2008.
38. "Heavy rains and snowfall disrupt life in north". IRIN Asia. 20 October 2004.
39. "Dwindling funds: No light at the end of Lowari Tunnel?". The Express Tribune. 13 October 2013.
40. "Fog disrupts trains, flight schedules". Daily Times. 30 November 2004.
41. "Cut in PIA flights to Chitral criticised". Dawn. 14 September 2009.
42. "Why Pervez Musharraf is Chitral’s hero". The Express Tribune. 1 September 2013.
43. "The vote of a mountain people".
44. "British Pakistani helped Musharraf to contest for Chitral seat". The News International. 9 April 2013.
45. "Musharraf Is Disqualified From Pakistani Elections". The New York Times. 16 April 2013.
46. "Afghanistan gives consent to road construction to Chitral". The Frontier Post. 1 June 1999.
47. "PIA flights’ cancellation". Dawn. 17 July 2012.
48. "9/11: Was US complicit or incompetent, questions Prince Mohiuddin". The News Tribe. 12 May 2011.
49. "Musharraf poised to win with majority from Chitral".
50. "Chitral – Political Diary". Chitral News. 21 August 2011.
51. "Chitral contest: Musharraf’s tunnel vision". The Express Tribune. 8 April 2013.
52. "Chitral valley: Despite boycott, APML wins two seats". The Express Tribune. 13 May 2013.