Honourable Senator Sabir Ali Baloch

Deputy Chairman, Senate of Pakistan

Balochistan, PPPP
 

Senator Sabir Ali Baloch holds a Bachelors of Arts degree from the Balochistan University. Senator Baloch has earlier served as a Provincial Minister of Balochistab from 1988 to 1989 while he has been elected as a member of the Balochistan Provincial Assembly in 1973, in 1977 and in 1988. Politically affiliated with the Pakistan Peoples Party, Mr. Baloch have been President of Pakistan Peoples Party for district Punjgur from 1973 to 1975 and President of the PPP Makran division from 1975-1980. Mr. Baloch was elected as a Senator for a 6 year term in March 2009. He was elected as the Deputy Chairman of Senate on March 12, 2012. He also holds the Chairpersonship of the Senate Standing Committee of the House. He is also member of the Senate Standing Committee on National Regulation and Services; Ports and Shipping; Defence and Defence Production; and Petroleum and Natural Resources.

Senate of Pakistan

Honourable Senator Haji Muhammad Adeel

Chairman, Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, ANP
 

Senator Haji Muhammad holds a degree of Bachelors in Arts. He was elected as member of the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (formerly NWFP) for the first time in 1990 and was re-elected in1993 and 1997. He became part of the Provincial Cabinet in 1993 in the capacity of Minister of Finance. He also served as Deputy Speaker of the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from 1997 to 1999. Currently, he is the Senior Vice President of the Awami National Party (ANP) Pakistan and serves as the Parliamentary Leader of the party in the Senate of Pakistan. Senator Adeel is also a member of the Senate Standing Committees of the House; Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs and Statistics; Planning and Development and Privatization; Defence and Defence Production and Rules of Procedure and Privileges.

Honourable Senator Muhammad Jehangir Bader

Leader of the House, Senate of Pakistan

Punjab, PPPP
 

Senator Muhammad Jehangir Bader was born on October 25, 1944 in Lahore. He holds a Master's degree in Commerce from the Punjab University Hailey College Lahore. He also holds Law degree and a Master's degree in Political Science from the Punjab University. He was elected both to the National Assembly as well as the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab in 1988 election but he vacated the Provincial Assembly seat and opted for the National Legislature. He also held the portfolios of the Ministries of Housing and Works, Science and Technology and Petroleum and Natural Resources as a Federal Minister from 1989 to 1990. He was elected as member of the Senate of Pakistan in March 2009. He is a member of the Senate Standing Committees on Foreign Affairs, Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan; Petroleum and Natural Resources, Law, Justice and Human Rights; and Parliamentary Affairs and Commerce.

Honourable Senator Dr. Saeeda Iqbal

Chairperson, Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change

Islamabad Capital Territory, PPPP
 

Dr. Saeeda Iqbal was born on December 29, 1947 in district Swabi of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. She represents Pakistan Peoples Party in the Senate of Pakistan. After completion of her Masters degree in Philosophy, she obtained a Ph. D in research and was associated with the Ministry of Education from 1973 to 2002 on an honorary basis. She has taught courses in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Karachi. She has also worked for Radio Pakistan and Pakistan Television on the research side. Dr. Saeeda Iqbal joined Pakistan Peoples Party in 2002 as the Secretary General of Party’s Women Wing of the Islamabad District. In 2008, she was elected as a Senator and now serves as a member of Senate Standing Committees on Information and Broadcasting; Inter-provincial Coordination; Cabinet Secretariat; and Capital Administration and Development.

National Assembly of Pakistan

Honourable Mr. Nadeem Afzal Gondal, MNA

Chairman Public Accounts Committee

NA-64 Sargodha-I, Punjab, PPPP
 

Mr. Nadeem Afzal Gondal was born on April 01, 1975 at Gujrat, Punjab. Mr. Gondal started his political career when he was elected as Tehsil Nazim, Malakwal, District Mandi Bahauddin, Punjab. Politically affiliated with Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarian (PPPP), Mr. Gondal was elected as Member National Assembly of Pakistan in General Election 2008. Mr. Nadeem Afzal Gondal served as Chairman National Assembly Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures from February 17, 2009 to April 25, 2012. He also chaired the Special Committee on Railway. He was elected unopposed as Chairman of the PAC after Leader of the Opposition resigned from the post and the opposition parties did not field a candidate for the post. He is a member of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee Rules of Procedures. He is married and has two daughters and a son.

Honourable Mr. Zahid Hamid, MNA

NA-114, Sialkot-V, Punjab, PML-N
 

Mr. Zahid Hamid was born on October 24, 1947 in Lahore, Punjab. He is politically affiliated with the PML (N). He was first elected to the National Assembly in 2002 on the ticket of the PML and has served as Minister of State for Defense, Minister for Privatization and Investment and Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights. He is a lawyer by profession. He has remained an advocate at the Supreme Court of Pakistan. He obtained his B.A (Honors) and M.A degree from the University of Cambridge, U.K and LL.B degree from the University of Punjab, Lahore. He has earlier served in the Civil Service of Pakistan (CSP) and later became an industrialist. As a lawyer he has worked extensively in the field of environmental law and is the principal draftsperson of the Pakistan Environment Protection Act, 1997. He is serving as a member of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Law and Justice. He is also a member of the Public Account Committee (PAC). He is married and has a daughter and two sons.

Honourable Syed Tayyab Hussain, MNA

NA-219, Hyderabad-II, Sindh, MQM
 

Syed Tayyab Hussain was born on December 14, 1961 in Hyderabad, Sindh. He is politically affiliated with the MQM. He is a civil engineer by profession. He obtained his B.E (Civil Engineering) from the NED University of Engineering and technology in 1987. He is married and has one daughter and two sons. Presently he is a member of the National Assembly’s Standing Committees on Climate Change; Overseas Pakistanis; and Water and Power.

Honourable Ms. Anusha Rahman Khan, MNA

NA-288, Punjab-XVI, Punjab, PML-N
 

Ms. Anusha Rahman Khan was born on June 01, 1968 in Lahore. She is a Member of Central Working Committee of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz). She is also a member of the National Assembly Standing Committees on Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs; Information Technology & Telecommunication, Science & Technology, and sub-committee reviewing Electoral Laws. She is also the convener of the sub-committees of the National Assembly Standing Committee of Information Technology and Telecommunication tasked to look into Transparency of Spectrum Auction for 3G and Legislation of Grey Trafficking. Ms. Khan has also assisted the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms. Ms. Khan is General Secretary of the Young Parliamentarians Forum of the National Assembly, and is also founding member of the Parliamentary Caucus against Corruption. Ms. Khanalso convened the Legal Committee that formulated the recently announced Chief Minister Punjab Women Empowerment Package, 2012. Within her political party, she is currently serving as Secretary Organisation to the President, a member of PML-N Manifesto Committee, Election Committee and Legal Committees. Ms. Rahman is on the Board of the Punjab Education Endowment Fund and Government Fatima Jinnah College for Women, Lahore. Her previous positions in the Party include Central Vice President of the PML-N’s Lawyer’s Wing, and Deputy Convener, PML-N Legal and Anti Rigging Wing. During Elections 2008, she co-authored an election publication: ‘Corrupt and Illegal Practices - A New Paradigm of Blatant Violations.’

Ms. Anusha Rahman Khan graduated in Law in 1992 and secured a Master in Law degree from the University College London, United Kingdom, specializing in Law and Economics of regulated industries, networks and markets. Her legal practice has been in constitutional, corporate and telecommunication law, while she has also worked as in-house Corporate Legal Counsel for a multinational mobile telecommunication operator in Pakistan. She has extensively travelled for both leisure and work and represented Pakistan on international forums. She is a regular writer in the national newspapers.

Honourable Mr. Khurram Dastgir Khan, MNA

Chairman, National Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce

NA-96, Gujranwala-II, Punjab, PML-N
 

Mr. Khurram Dastgir Khan was born on August 03, 1970 in Gujranwala and was educated at St. Joseph’s School and Cadet College Hassan Abdal. He was trained as Electrical Engineer at the California Institute of Technology and holds a degree in Economics from Bowdoin College, both in the United States. He was elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan on February 18, 2008. He was elected Chairman of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce on October 23, 2008. In Parliament, he has led legislative efforts on restructuring Pakistan’s anti-dumping and insurance statutes, regulation of foreign security agencies, empowering the Standing Committees with budgetary approval of ministries and, most recently, reform of high treason law. As Chairman, Khurram has revitalized the Standing Committee that oversees Pakistan’s Commerce Ministry. Under his chairmanship, the Committee has performed vigorous oversight of the executive branch on trade policy, WTO regulations, Afghan Transit Trade, regulation of insurance industry, and integrity of government procurement. Khurram Dastgir Khan is affiliated politically with the principal opposition party, Pakistan Muslim League-N, and has been recently elected as Deputy Information Secretary of the PML-N. He has served as Central Joint Secretary during 2006-2009. He has also served previously as Special Assistant to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in 1999. During 1999-2008, he led resistance in Gujranwala against the dictatorial rule of Gen. Pervez Musharraf. He is also a member of the National Assembly Standing Committee on National Regulations and Services and Public Account.

Honourable Mir Amer Ali Khan Magsi, MNA

NA-206, Kamber Shahdadkot, Sindh, PPPP
 

Mir Amer Ali Khan Magsi was born on December 27, 1960 in Lahore, Punjab. He is politically affiliated with the PPPP. He was previously elected as Senator in 2001. An agriculturist by profession, Mr. Magsi obtained his Bachelor’s degree from Khairpur University in 2004. He is a member of the National Assembly’s Standing Committees on Defence, Foreign Affairs and Postal Services. Mr. Magsi has visited USA, UK and UAE. His areas of legislative interest include Foreign Affairs, Defence and Communication. His hobbies include hunting, racing and adventurism. He is married and has two daughters and two sons.

Honourable Mian Abdus Sattar, MNA

Parliamentary Secretary, Planning and Development Commission

NA-193, R. Y. Khan-II, Punjab, PPPP
 

Mian Abdus Sattar was born on September 15, 1956 in Khanpur, Punjab. He is politically affiliated with Pakistan Peoples Party. He was previously elected as MPA in 1988, 1993 and 1997. He is an agriculturist by profession. He is married and has three sons. He serves as member of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Defence Production, Finance & Revenue and Planning & Development, Kashmir Affairs & Gilgit-Baltistan. He is also serving as the Parliamentary Secretary of the Planning and Development Commission of Pakistan. He has visited USA, UK, Canada, Germany, Italy, France, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Syria, India, Malaysia, etc. His hobbies includes reading book, surfing on the internet and travelling.

Honourable Dr. Nafisa Shah, MNA

Chairperson, National Commission for Human Development

NA-309, Sindh-II, Sindh, PPPP
 

Dr. Nafisa Shah was born on January 20, 1968 in Khairpur. She holds a doctorate in Social and Cultural Anthropology from the University of Oxford. She served as Nazim of Khairpur from 2001-2005. She was one of the only two women elected to this position and her exemplary work in the area brought her recognition. She was nominated as the Young Global Leader by the Davos Forum in 2005. She was also one of the 1000 women collectively nominated across the globe for Nobel Peace Prize in 2005. She has been a journalist and worked as reporter for the Newsline where she reported extensively on human rights, gender and environment. She was awarded the APNS Award for Best Article of the Year in 1993. She was also named in the UN Global Roll of Honour for her environmental reporting. She has written and presented academic and non-academic papers on gender, human rights and environment. She also serves on several boards of organizations working for cultural and social development. She is the Honorary President of Pakistan Girl Guides Association and the Chairperson of the National Commission for Human Development. She was unanimously elected as the Vice-Chairperson of the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association-(CPA) in 2011. She was elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan in February 2008. She is a member of the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs and Statistics and Standing Committee on Minorities. She also serves as the Secretary of the informal Parliamentary Caucus on Women.

Parliamentary Secretariats

Mr. Iftikharullah Babar

Secretary Senate of Pakistan
 

Mr. Iftikharullah Babar was born in Nowshera on September 01, 1951. He is serving as the Secretary of the Senate of Pakistan. He is also the Chief Editor of the quarterly “Senate News.” Mr. Babar holds a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Peshawar. He is also a graduate of the International School of Social Studies (ISS) in Hague, Netherlands with a Master’s degree in Development Studies. Mr. Babar has been working with the Senate for the last 21 years. During this period, he has written on a number of wide ranging topics, including the Eighth Constitutional Amendment, the Parliamentary Committee System in Pakistan, the Eighteenth Constitutional Amendment and Electoral Reforms in Pakistan.

Malik Kamran Azam Khan Rajar

Staff Officer to the Speaker; Deputy Secretary, National Assembly of Pakistan; in-charge of all Parliamentary Friendship Groups in the National Assembly
 

Malik Kamran Azam Khan Rajar was born on June 28, 1966 in Quetta; the provincial capital of Balochistan. He graduated from the Government College Lahore in 1988. In 1992 he completed his L.L.B. from the Punjab Law College Lahore. Mr. Rajar got L.L.M. (Tax): an advance degree in laws of taxation from the University of London. . He joined the Civil Service of Pakistan in 1994. He has received a lot of on the job trainings and has participated in many conferences and workshops, both at the national and international levels. Currently he is serving as the Deputy Secretary to the Speaker of National Assembly where he is responsible for organising of international Parliamentary interactions and Parliamentary diplomacy. He is also in-charge of all Parliamentary Friendship Groups in the National Assembly. Mr. Rajar also provides support and input for administrative and Parliamentary performance.

Media Representative

Mr. Hamza Rehman Malik

Reporter, Associated Press of Pakistan
 

Mr. Hamza Rehman Malik was born on November 24 1975 in Rawalpindi. He graduated from the Government Gorden College in 1995. He continued his studies after that and now holds three Masters Degrees in Business Administration (Marketing), Mass Communication and Political Science. He has been working in the field of journalism for seven years. Since 2007, he has been working with the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) in the capacity of Defence and Diplomatic Correspondent. Mr. Malik has covered three budgetary sessions of the Parliament and various Committees’ proceedings. He has visited the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rawanda and Burundi to work on UN Peacekeeping Missions. He has covered and participated in many local and international workshops and events.

PILDAT Team

Mr. Ahmed Bilal Mehboob
Executive Director, PILDAT
 

The founder Executive Director of PILDAT, Mr. Ahmed Bilal Mehboob was born on October 28, 1952, in Rahim Yar Khan. He has over 25 years experience in senior management and advisory positions and over 10 years experience in design, planning and implementation of projects in the field of Parliamentary development, strengthening democratic institutions, democratisation, political discourse, election monitoring and dialogues for reconciliation. Mr. Mehboob is considered an authority on political, legislative and electoral affairs of the country. Mr. Mehboob’s focus has been on strengthening democracy and democratic institutions and providing thought leadership on crucial issues that affect democracy and political growth in the country. Mr. Mehboob has carved and spearheaded a non-partisan political research initiative from the platform of PILDAT and has facilitated the formation of Dialogue, Research and Policy Groups on areas such as Civil-Military Relations, Centre-Province Relations, Relations between the Muslim World and the West and Electoral Reforms, etc. Of special significance has been PILDAT’s initiative of Dialogue process on Civil-Military Relations. Working to establish a constitutional equation of civil-military relations in Pakistan is a first initiative of its kind in Pakistan by PILDAT and remains one of its continuing areas of focus over the years. Mr. Mehboob has authored and edited more than 100 Briefing Papers, Background Papers and Case Studies relating to Parliamentary Budget Process, Parliamentary Committees, Legislative Strengthening, Electoral Systems, Parliamentary Strengthening and Democracy Watch programmes, etc. Mr. Mehboob is regularly invited by national and international media for analysis and commentaries in addition to national and international conferences.

Mr. Mehboob holds a B.Sc. degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Engineering & Technology Lahore, Pakistan. As an engineer, he has served outside Pakistan in the Middle East and USA. As a student activist, Mr. Mehboob was elected as President, Engineering University Students Union from 1971-1972 and also served as Chairman, Lahore Students Council in 1972.

Ms. Aasiya Riaz
Joint Director, PILDAT
 

Ms. Aasiya Riaz, Joint Director of PILDAT coordinates various research projects within PILDAT and manages PILDAT’s projects and activities as PILDAT's co-director. She has over 10 years’ experience of working in the field of research, management and analysis. She has been working in the areas of democratic and legislative strengthening; research on political and public policy issues; civil-military relations; dialogues between the Muslim World and the West and Electoral Process, etc. Trained in the field of media and political communication at the London School of Economics, UK, Ms. Riaz has worked with the mainstream press and electronic media in Pakistan as well. She was also a Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellow at the National Endowment for Democracy, USA where she worked on US Think Tanks and the subject of Civil-Military Relations. She also graduated from the Stanford University, USA Course on Democracy, Development and Rule of Law in August 2007. She regularly appears on national and international media for political analysis and commentaries.

Mr. Faheem Ahmed Khan

Projects Manager, PILDAT
 

Mr. Faheem Ahmed Khan was born on September 02, 1967 in Rawalpindi. He graduated from the Punjab University in 1988, Mr. Khan joined Wandel and Goltermann in 1991 as an Administration Officer and served there till 1993. He joined Granger Telecom, United Kingdom in 1994 as a project coordinator. He has been associated with PILDAT as a Projects Manage from October 2001 to April 2005 and from June 2010 to-date. He has extensive experience of project management, administration, liaison and coordination with different stakeholders in PILDAT’s work, especially legislative secretariats. Mr. Khan has also represented PILDAT in a three-day South Asia Regional Workshop on “Advancing Public Participation and Accountability in the Budget Process” in Kathmandu, Nepal from June 4-6, 2012. He is fluent in Urdu, English and Punjabi.

Mr. Hammal Dostain

Projects Manager, PILDAT
 

Mr. Hammal Dostain was born in Chagai on April 06, 1979. He holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration. His background of management and marketing provide him with a competitive edge for management and coordination of a variety of PILDAT initiatives including PILDAT projects and Programmes, international and regional conferences, briefing sessions for Parliamentarians and policymakers, etc. Mr. Dostain has extensive experience of coordinating with the national and international legislators and policy makers, media and national, regional and international government and non-government institutions. In order to understand how the British Political System works and how citizens, especially, media, youth and civil society organizations hold the government to account in UK, Mr. Dostain organized and participated in a Study Visit for Youth Parliament Pakistan to UK in July 2009 as Project Manager. Mr. Dostain has also managed Pak-Afghan Parliamentarians Dialogues from 2008 onwards. He is fluent in Balochi, Brahvi, Persian, Dari, and Pashto languages apart from Urdu and English.