Shehryar Khan Afridi (Urdu: شہریار خان آفریدی; born 12 March 1971) is a Pakistani politician who served as Chairperson of the Parliamentary Special Committee on Kashmir, in office from 13 May 2020 to April 2022. He served as the Minister of State for Interior from 31 August 2018 to 18 April 2019.[1] He has been a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan since February 2024 and previously served as a member from August 2018 till January 2023 and June 2013 to May 2018. He also served as the Minister of State for States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) from 18 April 2019 until 25 September 2020. He was also given an additional charge of the Ministry of Narcotics Control after the death of Ali Mohammad Mahar.[2][3]
MNA Shehryar Khan Afridi | |
---|---|
شہریارخان آفریدی | |
Chairperson of the Parliamentary Special Committee on Kashmir | |
In office 13 May 2020 – April 2022 | |
President | Arif Alvi |
Prime Minister | Imran Khan |
Preceded by | Syed Fakhar Imam |
Minister of State for Narcotics Control | |
In office 9 April 2020 – 25 September 2020 | |
President | Arif Alvi |
Prime Minister | Imran Khan |
Minister | Azam Khan Swati |
Preceded by | Himself |
In office 11 June 2019 – 6 April 2020 | |
President | Arif Alvi |
Prime Minister | Imran Khan |
Preceded by | Ali Mohammad Mahar |
Succeeded by | Himself |
Minister of State for States and Frontier Region | |
In office 18 April 2019 – 25 September 2020 | |
President | Arif Alvi |
Prime Minister | Imran Khan |
Minister | Sahabzada Mehboob Sultan |
Minister of State for Interior | |
In office 31 August 2018 – 18 April 2019 | |
President | Arif Alvi |
Prime Minister | Imran Khan |
Succeeded by | Ijaz Ahmed Shah as Federal Minister |
Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan | |
Assumed office 29 February 2024 | |
Constituency | NA-35 Kohat |
In office 13 August 2018 – 17 January 2023 | |
Constituency | NA-32 (Kohat) |
In office 1 June 2013 – 31 May 2018 | |
Constituency | NA-14 (Kohat) |
Personal details | |
Born | Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan | 12 March 1971
Nationality | Pakistani |
Political party | PTI (2013-present) |
Alma mater | University of Peshawar |
Early life and education
editAfridi was born on 12 March 1971 into a Pashtun family of the Afridi tribe.[4]
A native of Kohat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, his father Nadir Shah Afridi served as a district counsellor and later became a member of parliament, while one of his brothers, Major (r) Tariq Javed, worked in the bureaucracy following his retirement from the armed forces.[5]
He received a Master's degree in International Relations from the University of Peshawar.[5]
In May 2020, Afridi tested positive for COVID-19 during the coronavirus pandemic in Pakistan.[6][7]
Professional career
editBefore entering politics, Afridi worked for a multinational company in Germany.[8]
Political career
editMember of the National Assembly of Pakistan
editAfridi ran for the seat of National Assembly of Pakistan as an independent candidate from Constituency NA-14 (Kohat) in 2002 Pakistani general election[9] but was unsuccessful. He received 12,083 votes and lost the seat to a candidate of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal.[10]
Afridi was elected to the National Assembly as a candidate of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) from Constituency NA-14 (Kohat) in 2013 Pakistani general election.[11][12][13][14] He received 68,129 votes and defeated a candidate of Jamiat Ulema-e Islam (F) (JUI-F).[15] He was re-elected to the National Assembly as a candidate of PTI from Constituency NA-32 (Kohat) in 2018 Pakistani general election.[16] He received 82,248 votes and defeated Gohar Mohammad Khan Bangash, a candidate of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA).[17]
Minister of State for Interior
editOn 28 August 2018, he was named by Prime Minister Imran Khan as Minister of State for Interior.[18] On 31 August 2018, he was sworn in as Minister of State for Interior in the federal cabinet of PM Imran Khan.[19][20]
Minister of State for States and Frontier Regions
editOn 18 April 2019, he resigned as Minister of State for Interior, and was appointed as the minister of state for States and Frontier regions.[citation needed]
Minister of State for Narcotics Control (Additional Charge)
editLater he was given the additional portfolio of Ministry of Narcotics Control. On 29 September 2020 after the approval of Prime Minister Imran Khan, Minister of State for Narcotics Shehryar Afridi was removed from the post.[21]
Controversies
editResidence
editIn October 2018, Afridi was accused of using public funds worth millions of rupees to renovate and redecorate his new residence. Following which Prime Minister Imran Khan took notice of the issue and ordered Federal Investigation Agency to carry out the investigation.[22][23][24][25]
May 9 riots
editIn 2023, he was put under arrest along with many leaders of the PTI following the May 9 riots and the perceived attack on the country's institutions by the party.[26]
References
edit- ^ Khan, Amir Wasim | Sanaullah (2019-04-18). "Major reshuffle: Fawad Chaudhry's ministry changed, Hafeez Sheikh appointed adviser on finance". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2019-04-18.
- ^ Sherani, Tahir (2019-04-19). "Asad Umar still listed as finance minister in Cabinet Division's new notification". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2019-04-19.
- ^ "Archived copy". www.cabinet.gov.pk. Archived from the original on 2020-05-02. Retrieved 2019-06-18.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Detail Information". www.pildat.org. PILDAT. Archived from the original on 25 April 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ a b "Shehryar Afridi at the helm of the interior ministry". Geo News. 1 September 2018. Archived from the original on 5 August 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
Born in Kohat in 1971, he completed his master's in International Relations from the Peshawar University. While he sat for the civil service exams, he was not successful. One of his brothers, Major (r ) Tariq Javed also served in the bureaucracy after his stint in the armed forces. His father, Nadir Shah Afridi, was the district counsellor in the 1990s, and later a member of the parliament.
- ^ "Federal minister Shehryar Afridi tests positive for coronavirus". Dawn. 30 May 2020. Archived from the original on 9 June 2020.
- ^ Shehryar Afridi [@ShehryarAfridi1] (29 May 2020). "I have tested positive of #COVID19 & hv isolated myself at home as per advice by medics. I need prayers & blessings. May Allah almighty help save all my countrymen from the pandemic under my PM @ImranKhanPTI" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "I Was Enjoying Life In Germany - Rat Ko Chapay Mar Raha Tha Subha Ministry Le Li - Shehryar Afridi". UrduPoint. 8 April 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- ^ "Three women file papers in Kohat". DAWN.COM. 26 August 2002. Archived from the original on 18 March 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
- ^ "2002 election result" (PDF). ECP. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 January 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
- ^ "PTI's MNA Shehryar Afridi terms terrorism major issue of Pakistan". Aaj News. Archived from the original on 3 March 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
- ^ "Rift on PK-37 result: Boost for PTI in Kohat, Hangu". DAWN.COM. 13 May 2013. Archived from the original on 3 March 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
- ^ "PTI tops list of lawmakers yet to file statements of assets". DAWN.COM. 9 November 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
- ^ "100 new MNAs-elect to make debut in NA today". 1 June 2013. Archived from the original on 6 March 2017. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
- ^ "2013 election result" (PDF). ECP. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 February 2018. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
- ^ "Vote recount ordered in Kohat's PK-81". DAWN.COM. 28 July 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
- ^ "NA-32 Result - Election Results 2018 - Kohat - NA-32 Candidates - NA-32 Constituency Details - thenews.com.pk". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
- ^ "Shehryar Khan Afridi to be appointed minister of state for interior: sources". Geo News. 28 August 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
- ^ "Cabinet Division notifies appointment of Shehryar Afridi as Minister of State for Interior |". Business Recorder. 31 August 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- ^ "Shehryar Afridi takes oath as State Minister for Interior". The Nation. 31 August 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- ^ "Minister Of State For Narcotics Shehryar Afridi Removed From Post". BOL News. Retrieved 2020-09-29.
- ^ "Probe against state interior minister for renovating house on govt money". Geo News. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
- ^ "Fawad asks PEMRA to launch enquiry against allegations on Shehryar Afridi". pakistan today. 13 October 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
- ^ "PM orders probe against minister Afridi". The News. 13 October 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
- ^ Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (13 October 2018). "FIA probing renovation of minister's residence". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
- ^ "PTI's Shehryar Afridi arrested under MPO". The Express Tribune. 2023-05-16. Retrieved 2023-06-17.