Pakistani politician
Barrister Muhammad Raza Hayat Hiraj (Urdu :محمد رضا حیات ہراج ; born 21 July 1965) is aPakistani politician who is the MNA fromNA-144 (Khanewal-I) for the 16thNational Assembly of Pakistan and has been a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan from 2002 to May 2018.
Early life and education [ edit ] He was born on 21 July 1965 to Mahr Khizar Hayat Hiraj.[ 1] [ 2] [ 3] [ 4]
He received his LLB degree fromUniversity of Leicester in 1992.[ 4]
He was elected to theNational Assembly of Pakistan as a candidate ofPakistan Peoples Party (PPP) from ConstituencyNA-156 (Khanewal-I) in2002 Pakistani general election .[ 5] [ 6] [ 7] [ 8] He received 86,438 votes and defeatedFakhar Imam , a candidate ofPakistan Muslim League (Q) (PML-Q).[ 7] [ 9] He became part ofPervez Musharraf 's cabinet[ 10] and served as Minister of State for Information Technology, Law, Justice, Human Rights, Parliamentary Affairs, and Overseas Pakistanis.[ 11] [ 12] [ 13] [ 14] [ 15] [ 16] [ 17] [ 18] [ 19] [ 20] [ 21] [ 4]
On 13 October 2003, he articulated Pakistan's stance during the plenary session of theUnited Nations General Assembly regarding equitable representation and the expansion ofSecurity Council membership.[ 22] [ 23] [ 24] He said:
"Pakistan firmly believes that objectives of reform and expansion of the Security Council should be to promote greater democracy, and participation, and transparency, and accountability, in the work of the Security Council.[ 25] "
He was re-elected to the National Assembly as a candidate ofPML-Q from ConstituencyNA-156 (Khanewal-I) in2008 Pakistani general election .[ 26] [ 5] [ 6] [ 27] [ 28] [ 7] [ 29] [ 30] He received 71,381 votes and defeatedSyed Fakhar Imam , a candidate ofPPP .[ 31]
Bill to Disqualify MPs with Dual Nationalities [ edit ] In April 2011, he introduced a private constitutional amendment bill in the National Assembly seeking the disqualification of parliamentarians and bureaucrats holding dual nationalities or possessing assets or bank accounts outside Pakistan.[ 32] [ 33] [ 34] Article 62 and 63 elaborate on the conditions under which a person can be removed.[ 35] [ 36] [ 37] [ 33] He remarked while presenting the bill before the House:
Those who take oath of loyalty to another country cannot safeguard the interests of Pakistan.[ 32]
Demand for New Province [ edit ] In August 2011, he highlighted the disparities in resource allocation between central and South Punjab and demanded a new province.[ 38] He said:[ 38]
Punjab spends around Rs. 25,000 per year on policing, health and education for one person in its central parts while the amount is reduced to Rs. 250 to 300 when it comes to a person in South Punjab. In our area, two cusec canal water is given for one thousand acres while in Faisalabad district they give 16 cusec for the same number of acres. If our demand for a new province is not met, we (MNAs from South Punjab) will resign from the National Assembly in protest.
He was re-elected as a member of theNational Assembly as an independent candidate from ConstituencyNA-156 (Khanewal-I) in2013 Pakistani general election .[ 2] [ 7] [ 39] [ 40] [ 41] He received 79,675 votes and defeatedSyed Fakhar Imam , a candidate ofPakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N).[ 42] He was accused of rigging in the election andSyed Fakhar Imam filled rigging petition against him in theElection Commission of Pakistan .[ 43]
In May 2013, he joinedPML-N. [ 5] [ 6] [ 44] He served asMinister of Housing and Works from 3 May 2011 to 19 June 2012.[ 45]
In March 2018, he quitPML-N and joinedPakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf .[ 46] [ 47] [ 48] He participated as a candidate ofPTI from ConstituencyNA-156 (Khanewal-I) in2018 Pakistani general election and secured 92,039 votes but lost to Syed Fakhar Imam, who as an independent candidate secured 101,520 votes.[ 49] [ 50]
In the2024 Pakistani general election , he participated as an independent candidate from ConstituencyNA-144 Khanewal-I [ 51] [ 52] against Syed Abid Imam, the son ofSyed Fakhar Imam andAbida Hussain .[ 53] [ 54] [ 55] [ 56] He won with 118,999 votes,[ 6] [ 57] while Syed Abid Imam secured 78,269 votes.[ 58] [ 59] [ 60] [ 61] He joinedPML-N on 14 February 2024.[ 62] [ 63] [ 64] He took oath on 29 February 2024.[ 65] [ 66] [ 67] [ 68] On 7 March 2025, he was appointedMinister for Defence Production .[ 69] [ 70]
^ "If elections are held on time… | Peshawar | thenews.com.pk" . 5 December 2017. Archived fromthe original on 5 December 2017. Retrieved16 February 2024 .^a b "National Assembly of Pakistan" .na.gov.pk . Retrieved10 February 2024 .^ "Detail Information" . 21 April 2014. Archived from the original on 21 April 2014. Retrieved9 July 2017 .{{cite web }}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link )^a b c "Educational background of state ministers" .DAWN.COM . 6 September 2004.Archived from the original on 10 August 2017. Retrieved9 August 2017 .^a b c "Elections 2024: Triumphant independents with history of switching loyalties" .www.geo.tv . Retrieved12 February 2024 .^a b c d "Some independents have a history of switching loyalties" .www.thenews.com.pk . Retrieved12 February 2024 .^a b c d Sattar, Farooq (12 July 2018)."Triangular fight may benefit Fakhar Imam in NA-150" .DAWN.COM . Retrieved8 February 2024 . ^ "PPP re-emerges in southern Punjab" .DAWN.COM . 12 October 2002.Archived from the original on 6 March 2017. Retrieved7 April 2017 .^ "2002 election result" (PDF) . ECP. Archived fromthe original (PDF) on 26 January 2018. Retrieved12 April 2018 .^ Wasim, Amir (5 December 2017)."PML-N to take disciplinary action against Jamali, Harraj" .DAWN.COM .Archived from the original on 5 December 2017. Retrieved5 December 2017 . ^ Khan, Tahira S. (2006).Beyond honour : a historical materialist explanation of honour related violence . Internet Archive. Karachi; New York : Oxford University Press. p. 304.ISBN 978-0-19-597902-2 . ^ "FEDERAL CABINET UNDER THE PREMIERSHIP OF MR. SHAUKAT AZIZ, THE PRIME MINISTER FROM 28-08-2004 to 15-11-2007" (PDF) .Cabinet Division .^ "FEDERAL CABINET UNDER THE PREMIERSHIP OF MIR ZAFARULLAH KAHN JAMALI, THE PRIME MINISTER FROM 23. 11. 2002 26. 6. 2004" (PDF) .^ Europa (2006).The Europa world year book 2006 : Volume II. Countries:Kazakstan-Zimbabwe . Internet Archive. [S.l.] : Routledge.ISBN 978-1-85743-364-7 . ^ Europa Publications Staff (2007).Europa World Year Book 2007 . Internet Archive. Taylor & Francis Group.ISBN 978-1-85743-414-9 . ^ Reporter, A. (14 November 2003)."Ministers meet Jamali" .DAWN.COM . Retrieved9 February 2024 . ^ "FEDERAL CABINET UNDER THE PREMIERSHIP OF CHAUDHRY SHUJAT HUSSAIN, THE PRIME MINISTER FROM 30.6.2004 TO 28.8.2004" (PDF) .Cabinet Division. Government of Pakistan .^ "Parliament to complete tenure: Raza" .Brecorder . 26 July 2004. Retrieved9 February 2024 .^ "Key portfolios changed in shake-up: Durrani replaces Rashid as information minister" .DAWN.COM . 26 April 2006. Retrieved9 February 2024 .^ The Europa World Year: Kazakhstan - Zimbabwe . Taylor & Francis. 2004. p. 3281.ISBN 978-1-85743-255-8 .^ "Unforgiving president: Zardari spurns ex-PPP Musharraf cronies" .The Express Tribune . 5 March 2012. Retrieved9 February 2024 .^ "LE PROJET DE CONVENTION DE LUTTE CONTRE LA CORRUPTION REÇOIT L'APPUI UNANIME DES DELEGATIONS DE LA DEUXIEME COMMISSION | UN Press" .press.un.org . Retrieved12 February 2024 .^ Hiraj, Muhammad Raza Hayat; Pakistan (17 October 2003)."Registro #506992" .United Nations Digital Library System (in Spanish). Retrieved9 February 2024 . ^ Hiraj, Muhammad Raza Hayat; Pakistan (13 October 2003)."Record #531420" .United Nations Digital Library System . Retrieved9 February 2024 . ^ Hilali, A.Z."Pakistan's foreign policy objectives in the post September 11, 2001 era" (PDF) .Institute of Strategic Studies . ^ "PML-Q's Faisal Saleh Hayat refuses to join new cabinet" .The Express Tribune . 24 June 2012. Retrieved12 February 2024 .^ "Memorial service: NA remembers Jam Yousaf" .The Express Tribune . 4 February 2013. Retrieved11 February 2024 .^ "Fourteen PML-Q lawmakers join federal cabinet" .DAWN.COM . 2 May 2011. Retrieved9 February 2024 .^ "Fakhr Imam seeks re-poll in NA-156" .DAWN.COM . 23 February 2008.Archived from the original on 8 April 2017. Retrieved7 April 2017 .^ "Murder case: MNA-elect summoned on 27th" .DAWN.COM . 25 February 2008.Archived from the original on 8 April 2017. Retrieved7 April 2017 .^ "2008 election result" (PDF) . ECP. Archived fromthe original (PDF) on 5 January 2018. Retrieved12 April 2018 .^a b "Dual standards on dual nationality" .DAWN.COM . 21 October 2011. Retrieved12 February 2024 .^a b "ECP's recommendation: dual nationality holders be barred from taking part in elections" .Brecorder . 5 July 2011. Retrieved12 February 2024 .^ "New bill seeks to disqualify MPs with dual nationalities" .The Express Tribune . 19 April 2011. Retrieved12 February 2024 .^ "Article 62 — A brief look at the law" .The Express Tribune . 13 April 2018. Retrieved12 February 2024 .^ Jhan, Mahnoor Shah (1 January 2018)."Analysis of article 62 and 63 of 1973 constitution" . {{cite journal }}
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(help ) ^ "Distilling Eligibility and Virtue: Articles 62 and 63 of the Pakistani Constitution | SAHSOL" .sahsol.lums.edu.pk . Retrieved12 February 2024 .^a b "Daily Jang: Latest News, Breaking News Pakistan, Entertainment, Sports, Urdu News, English News" .jang.com.pk . Retrieved12 February 2024 .^ "N, independents rule the roost in Khanewal" .The Nation .Archived from the original on 6 March 2017. Retrieved6 March 2017 .^ "PPP, PML-Q break-up may deprive them of 24 NA seats" .The Nation .Archived from the original on 6 March 2017. Retrieved6 March 2017 .^ "SC reserves judgment in poll dispute case" .DAWN.COM . 26 September 2014.Archived from the original on 7 March 2017. Retrieved6 March 2017 .^ "2013 election result" (PDF) . ECP. Archived fromthe original (PDF) on 1 February 2018. Retrieved12 April 2018 .^ "Rigged polls: PML-N candidate files complaint with ECP - The Express Tribune" .The Express Tribune . 13 May 2013.Archived from the original on 12 April 2018. Retrieved12 April 2018 .^ Tahir, Zulqernain (17 May 2013)."Four MPs-elect join PML-N" .DAWN.COM .Archived from the original on 12 April 2018. Retrieved12 April 2018 . ^ "1st CABINET UNDER THE PREMIERSHIP OF SYED YOUSAF RAZA GILLANI, THE PRIME MINISTER" (PDF) .^ "PML-N MNA Raza Hayat Hiraj joins PTI" .Daily Times . 7 March 2018. Retrieved8 February 2024 .^ "PML-N MNA Raza Hayat Hiraj joins PTI - Daily Times" .Daily Times . 7 March 2018.Archived from the original on 16 May 2018. Retrieved3 April 2018 .^ "Another 'wicket falls' as PML-N's Raza Nasrullah joins PTI" .Pakistan Today .Archived from the original on 5 April 2018. Retrieved5 April 2018 .^ "Fakhar Imam takes oath as Federal Minister" .The Nation . 8 April 2020. Retrieved9 February 2024 .^ "PTI finalises 85 NA candidates of Punjab" .The Nation . 4 June 2018. Retrieved9 February 2024 .^ Desk (Lahore), Web (10 February 2024)."Elections 2024: Here's list of Independent candidates who do not support Imran Khan's PTI" .Pakistan Observer . Retrieved11 February 2024 . ^ Web Desk (10 February 2024)."Independent candidates who do not support PTI" .Aaj English TV . Retrieved11 February 2024 . ^ "Three Hiraj brothers secure victory in Kabirwala election" .The Nation . 10 February 2024. Retrieved10 February 2024 .^ "Syeds, Hirajs, Sarganas flex muscles in NA-144 Khanewal-I" .www.thenews.com.pk . Retrieved8 February 2024 .^ Gabol, Imran (2 February 2024)."Syed and Hiraj groups dominate Khanewal electoral scene" .DAWN.COM . Retrieved8 February 2024 . ^ "Voters to elect four MNAs, 8 MPAs in Khanewal today" .The Nation . 8 February 2024. Retrieved8 February 2024 .^ "LIVE: Pakistan election results 2024 — Wheeling and dealing kicks off as PML-N, PPP step up efforts for coalition govt" .www.geo.tv . Retrieved11 February 2024 .^ "General Elections 2024 - National Assembly" .www.elections.gov.pk . Retrieved9 February 2024 .^ "NA-144.pdf" .Google Docs . Retrieved9 February 2024 .^ "Live Updates: Live Elections 2024" .DAWN.COM . 9 February 2024. Retrieved9 February 2024 .^ WEB-DESK, SAMAA."Results of National Assembly seats: Live updates" .Samaa TV . ^ "Nawaz chooses Ayaz for NA speaker" .The Express Tribune . 28 February 2024. Retrieved2 March 2024 .^ "Nine newly-elected independent lawmakers join PML-N" .The Express Tribune . 14 February 2024. Retrieved16 February 2024 .^ Tahir, Zulqernain (15 February 2024)."PML-N rank & file 'let down' by Nawaz's change of heart" .DAWN.COM . Retrieved15 February 2024 . ^ "302 MNAs sworn in amid ruckus" .The Nation . 1 March 2024. Retrieved2 March 2024 .^ "NA meets today for oath-taking of new MNAs" .The Nation . 29 February 2024. Retrieved29 February 2024 .^ Web Desk (29 February 2024)."Newly elected MNAs take oath in NA's inaugural session" .ARY NEWS . Retrieved29 February 2024 . ^ "Newly elected MNAs sworn-in amid protest by PTI-backed lawmakers" .www.geo.tv . Retrieved29 February 2024 .^ Desk, News (7 March 2025)."Portfolios assigned to new ministers, advisers" .The Express Tribune . Retrieved7 March 2025 . {{cite web }}
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has generic name (help )^ "Federal cabinet reshuffled as major portfolios announced" .www.samaa.tv . 7 March 2025. Retrieved7 March 2025 .
Federal Ministers Ministers of State