Javed Ashraf Qazi

Lieutenant General Javed Ashraf Qazi (Urdu: جاوید اشرف قاضی), HI(M), SBt, (born 4 September 1941) in City Gujrat ( Chak Sada Village ) is a Pakistani general and politician who is currently a Senator in the Parliament of Pakistan. During his army career, Qazi headed the Inter-Services Intelligence from 1993 to 1995 and Military Intelligence from 1990 to 1991. During his political career, he served as a cabinet minister under President-General Pervez Musharraf, first as Communications Minister (2000–2002) and then as Education Minister (2004–2007).

Javed Ashraf Qazi
Qazi in 2012
Born (1941-09-04) September 4, 1941
Shimla, Punjab, British India
Allegiance Pakistan
Service/branch Pakistan Army
Years of service1962 – 1996
RankLieutenant General
Service numberPA – 6496
UnitRegiment of Artillery
Commands heldDG Military Intelligence (DGMI)
Master-General of Ordnance (MGO)
DG Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)
XXX Corps, Gujranwala
Battles/warsIndo-Pakistan War of 1965
Indo-Pakistan War of 1971
AwardsHilal-i-Imtiaz
Sitara-e-Basalat
Other workPolitician and Member of Parliament of Pakistan
Federal Minister for Education and Communications

He is accused of transferring tens of hundreds of acres of prime railway land in Lahore to a Malaysian firm during General Musharraf regime in 2001 for development of a golf course called Royal Palms Gold and Country Club at throwaway rates.[1]

Military career

Qazi joined Pakistan Military Academy after graduating from Cadet College Hasan Abdal. He was commissioned in the Pakistan Army April 1962 in the 25th PMA Long Course in the Regiment of Artillery. He later rose in his career to be the DG Military Intelligence (DGMI) under General Mirza Aslam Beg in 1990. Promoted to Lieutenant General in 1992, Qazi served as Master-General of Ordnance (MGO) from 1992 to 1993. He was then brought in to head the intelligence agency ISI by General Abdul Waheed Kakar in May 1993. Gen Waheed mandated Qazi not only to cleanse the ISI of "Islamists" but to rein in the "Jehadis" in Kashmir.[2] Qazi left the post in 1995 to assume the command of XXX Corps at Gujranwala. Qazi retired from the army in February 1996 thus relieving the corps.

Political career

Qazi started his political career after taking over as the Secretary of Science and Technology Division in 1996. He continued this post under Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif until 1997. He was later inducted as the Secretary of Railways in October 1999 by the new military leader General Pervez Musharraf, which he continued until 2000. Then he became the Minister of Communications and Railways in addition to Housing and Works from 2000 to 2002. He successfully fought the Senate seat in 2003, and became a senator on Pakistan Muslim League (Q) seat. The government later inducted him as Minister of Education in 2004 replacing Zubaida Jalal. His three-year stint ended in 2007, when the 5-year mandate for PML-Q government ended. Presently he is senator of PMLQ.

Controversies

During his tenure as Federal Education Minister in General Pervez Musharraf's cabinet, Mr. Qazi stirred up quite a controversy when in a talk show he erroneously mentioned that Quran has 40 parts (Juz') instead of 30.[3]

References

  1. Raza, Syed Irfan (2018-02-21). "17 years on, NAB reopens case against three ex-army generals". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2018-02-24.
  2. Ikram Sehgal. "Intelligence Happenings" Media Monitors, 24 November 2001
  3. "40 'Siparay': removal of education minister demanded". Business Recorder. 2006-12-16. Retrieved 2019-08-16.
Military offices
Preceded by
Javed Nasir
Director General of the Inter-Services Intelligence
1993 1995
Succeeded by
Naseem Rana
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