Attaullah Tarar (Urdu/Punjabi: عطاء اللہ تارڑ) is a Pakistani politician who is the current Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, in office since 12 March 2024. He has been a Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan since February 2024.

Attaullah Tarar
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting
Assumed office
11 March 2024
Prime MinisterShahbaz Sharif
Preceded byMurtaza Solangi (as Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting)
Amir Muqam (as Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture)
Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan
Assumed office
29 February 2024
ConstituencyNA-127 Lahore-XI
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Interior and Legal Affairs
In office
16 December 2022 – 10 August 2023
Prime MinisterShehbaz Sharif
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister
In office
28 July 2022 – 16 December 2022
Prime MinisterShehbaz Sharif
Home Minister of Punjab
In office
30 May 2022 – 26 July 2022
Spokesperson of the Government of Punjab
In office
24 May 2022 – 26 July 2022
Personal details
NationalityPakistani
Political partyPakistan Muslim League (N) (2022-present)
RelationsMuhammad Rafiq Tarar (grandfather)
Saira Afzal Tarar (aunt)
Bilal Farooq Tarar (brother)

Early life and education

He received an LLB (Hons) degree from the University of London.[1]

Political career

In December 2021, a First Information Report (FIR) was filed against Tarar after he, along with a mob of armed individuals, forcibly entered the residence of Syed Mir Wasiq, a candidate of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) during the by-election in Khanewal. Allegations were made that Tarar threatened, intimidated, and harassed women and family members of Wasiq.[2]

He held the position of Deputy Secretary-General of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N) and has previously served as an additional secretary.[1]

On 24 May 2022, Chief Minister of Punjab Hamza Shahbaz appointed him as the spokesperson of the Government of Punjab, on an honorary and non-remunerative basis.[1] On May 30, 2022, Tarar was appointed as the Home Minister in the shortlived cabinet of Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz.[3]

In June 2022, he faced criticism on social media after a video of him went viral, wherein he was observed displaying the middle finger in the Punjab Assembly, while holding a copy of the Constitution. After facing criticism on social media for allegedly showing disrespect towards the Constitution and violating the decorum of the Assembly, Atta posted an "apology".[4]

On July 28, 2022, he was appointed as the Special Assistant to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, with the status of a Federal Minister. On December 16, 2022, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appointed Tarar as his special assistant on interior and legal affairs.[5]

Following the May 9 riots, he held frequent media interactions, criticizing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan.[6]

In 2022, Farah Khan, a friend of Bushra Bibi, issued a final legal notice to Tarar, asking him to stop making defamatory statements about her.[7]

He was elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan as a candidate of PML-N from Constituency NA-127 Lahore-XI in 2024 Pakistani general election.[8] He received 98,210 votes and defeated PTI-backed independent candidate Malik Zaheer Abbas who received 82,230 votes and also Bilawal Bhutto Zardari who received 15,005 votes.[9] However, Malik Zaheer Abbas contested Tarar's election victory in court, accusing the Election Commission of Pakistan of manipulating and forging Forms 45 and 47 to declare Tarar the winning candidate.[10]

On 11 March, he was inducted into the federal cabinet of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and was appointed as Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting.[11] On May 17, 2024 Tarar was assigned additional portfolio of National Heritage and Culture.[12]

In May 2024, during Shehbaz Sharif's visit to Iran, Tarar, acted as his personal photographer upon landing at the airport, which prompted criticism from the public.[13]

References

  1. ^ a b c "PML-N's Attaullah Tarar appointed as Punjab government's spokesperson". Geo.tv. 24 May 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Attaullah Tarar, 60 Others Booked For Breaking Into PPP Leader's House". The Friday Times. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  3. ^ "Political limbo ends as Punjab cabinet sworn in". The Express Tribune. 30 May 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  4. ^ "Dear Atta Tarrar, Showing Middle Finger In The Assembly Can Never Be Justified". The Friday Times. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  5. ^ "Attaullah Tarar appointed SAPM on interior". The Nation. 16 December 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  6. ^ "All you need to know about the new faces in PM Shehbaz's 19-member cabinet". DAWN.COM. 12 March 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  7. ^ Bilal, Rana (11 August 2022). "Farah Khan sends another legal notice to PML-N's Attaullah Tarar against alleged defamation". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  8. ^ "NA 127: Bilawal Bhutto defeated in Lahore, Atta Tarar successful". Daily Times. 9 February 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  9. ^ Desk, Web (8 February 2024). "NA-127: Elections 2024 Pakistan results LIVE". ARY NEWS. Retrieved 11 March 2024. {{cite news}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  10. ^ "Notices on plea against Tarar's victory". DAWN.COM. 29 June 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  11. ^ Guramani, Nadir (11 March 2024). "PM Shehbaz's 19-member cabinet sworn in". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  12. ^ "Atta Tarar gets additional portfolio of National Heritage & Culture". APP.COM.PK. 17 May 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  13. ^ "Atta Tarar's 'embarrassing' photo-session in Tehran draws criticism". 23 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.