Shaikh Rashid Ahmad
Shaikh Rashid Ahmad got his initial Education from Christian High School Rawalpindi. He studied at Polytechnic College Rawalpindi. On November 7, 1968 he organized movement against Ayub Khan regime in which one student Hameed Shaheed sacrificed his life. Shaikh Rashid Ahmad was among three students who were barred from getting admission in any Educational Institution. Later he got admission in Gordon College Rawalpindi and took active part in student Politics. He emerged as a successful student leader and was elected in Student Union as Joint Secretary, Secretary, Vice President and President during four years respectively. He graduated from Gordon college and passed his M.A. examination from Shahpur Jail. He completed his L.L.B. from Lahore. He became Managing Director of Gulmerg Company which was doing business in silk and silk yarn.
He started his political career from Municipal Corporation Rawalpindi and became leader of Opposition in the Corporation. In 1985 general elections he was elected a Member of the National Assembly from Rawalpindi as an independent runner and subsequently has been elected MNA for six consecutive times. During October 2002 election he was elected from 2 seats and established a new record in political history of Pakistan to be the only person to do so and win. He is among the very few politicians who have been elected as MNA six times consecutively. He has served as Federal Minister for Labour and Manpower, Information, Industries, Sports Culture and Tourism and Investment. He has spent overall five years in solitary confinement for illegal activities. He was awarded seven years rigorous imprisonment in Klashnikov case and spent two years in Bahawalpur Jail.
He addressed the 41st session of the U.N. General Assembly and participated in Geneva Accords, Moscow conference. Apart from representing Pakistan on several International fora and was in charge of Gulf war monitoring. He has served five times as member of the standing committees of Foreign Affairs and Kashmir.He is the author of two books. His book namely “Farzand-e-Pakistan” was declared book of the year. His other book titled “Sub Achha Hai” is in the final stage of its publication.
