Amir Muqam is a Pakistani politician who serves as the Federal Minister for Kashmir affairs and Gilgit Baltistan along with States and frontier regions in Shehbaz Sharif cabinet. He is affiliated with PML(N) and serves as its Provincial President in Khyber pakhtunkhwa. He was a close aide to former military dictator Pervez Musharraf. He previously served as advisor to the prime minister on political affairs in the Third Nawaz Sharif ministry and Yousaf Raza Gillani Ministry. He is also a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan. Previously, he was a member of the National Assembly from 2002 to 2007 and again from 2008 to 2013. Muqam has been a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan since February 29, 2024.
Politician Amir Muqam | |
|---|---|
| امیر مقام | |
.jpg) Muqam in 2020 | |
| Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan | |
| Assumed office 11 March 2024 | |
| President | Asif Ali Zardari |
| Prime Minister | Shehbaz Sharif |
| Federal Minister for States and Frontier Regions | |
| Assumed office 11 March 2024 | |
| President | Asif Ali Zardari |
| Prime Minister | Shehbaz Sharif |
| Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture | |
| In office 11 March 2024 – 29 March 2024 | |
| President | Asif Ali Zardari |
| Prime Minister | Shehbaz Sharif |
| Succeeded by | Attaullah Tarar |
| Advisor to Prime minister on Federal departments In KPK | |
| In office September 2013 – April 2018 | |
| President | Mamnoon Hussain |
| Prime Minister | Nawaz Sharif |
| In office April 2022 – August 2023 | |
| President | Arif Alvi |
| Prime Minister | Shehbaz Sharif |
| Federal Minister for Political Affairs | |
| In office 25 April 2006 – 15 November 2007 | |
| President | Pervez Musharraf |
| Prime Minister | Shaukat Aziz |
| Minister for State of Water and Power | |
| In office 2 September 2004 – 24 April 2006 | |
| President | Pervez Musharraf |
| Prime Minister | Shaukat Aziz |
| Member of National Assembly of Pakistan | |
| Assumed office 29 February 2024 | |
| Constituency | NA-11 Shangla |
| In office 17 March 2008 – 16 March 2013 | |
| Constituency | NA-31 Shangla |
| In office 16 November 2002 – 15 November 2007 | |
| Constituency | NA-31 Shangla |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 25 July 1963 Puran, West Pakistan, Pakistan |
| Citizenship |  Pakistan |
| Political party | PMLN (2013-present) |
| Other political affiliations | PMLQ (2002-2013) MMA (2002) |
| Relations | Dr Ibad Khan (brother) |
| Alma mater | University of Peshawar |
| Profession | Politician |
Subsequently, on March 11, 2024, he assumed office as a federal minister in the Shehbaz Sharif cabinet,[1] overseeing the ministries of States and Frontier Regions, along with National Heritage and Culture.
Early life
editAmir Muqam was born at village Chagum Puran Tehsil in Shangla town, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, on 25 July 1963 into a Pakhtoon family.[2] After matriculating from a local high school, Muqam enrolled at the University of Engineering and Technology in Peshawar in 1983 to study engineering.[2] In 1988, Muqam graduated from UET Peshawar with BSc in Mechanical engineering.[3][4] His brother Ibadullah Khan is also politician in Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N).[5]
Political career
editIn 1998, Muqam was elected as general secretary of the Cantonments Association till he remained until 2001.[4] In 2001, Muqam was elected unopposed as Nazim of Bengali Chagum Union Council after participating in local government elections.[4] Amir Muqam won 2002 Pakistani general election on the ticket of Muttahida Majlis Amal from NA-31 constituency.[6] However, after winning elections Muqam defected to PML(Q) to support Gen. Pervez Musharraf.[7] During Pervez Musharraf tenure he enjoyed close ties with him, Pervez Musharraf called him his brother and gifted him a personal Glock pistol.[8] Muqam was made Minister of State for Water and Power and Political Affairs.[7] Muqam won the general elections from NA 38 Shangla on PML(Q) ticket. He obtained 25,960 against his opponent Safeer Khan from ANP.[9]
Before 2013 Pakistani general election he left PML(Q) on reportedly some difference with Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain[10][11] Muqam announced to join the PML(N) after holding a meeting with Nawaz Sharif and was appointed Senior vice President of the party.[12][13]
Amir Muqam contested from NA-30 (Swat-II) in 2013 Pakistani general election, however, he lost the seat from Salim Rehman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.[14][15]
In 2018 Pakistani general election Muqam contested two national assembly and two provisional assembly seats, however, he lost all fours seats. From NA-2 (Swat-I) he got 41125 votes and stood second,[16] from NA-29 (Peshawar-III) he stood fifth and obtained just 10569 votes.[17] He also lost two provisional seats PK-2 (Swat) and PK 4 (Swat 3).[18]
Electoral history
edit2002
editAmir Muqam contested the elections on MMA ticket however, after winning the election he defected to General Pervaiz Musharraf's PML(Q).[7]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 MMA
|
Amir Muqam | 25,960 | 43.21 | ||
 ANP
|
Safeer Khan | 18,676 | 31.08 | ||
 PPPP
|
Afsar-ul-Mulk | 11,769 | 19.59 | ||
 PML-N
|
Jamal Zeb Khan | 2,743 | 4.56 | ||
| Independent | Muhammad Saleem Khan | 531 | 0.88 | ||
| Independent | Ibadullah | 406 | 0.68 | ||
| Majority | 7,284 | 12.13 | |||
| Turnout | 60,085 | 27.40 | |||
| MMA gain from Independent | |||||
2008
editMuqam contested 2008 Pakistani general election on PML(Q)'s ticket and won from NA-31 (Shangla). However, later he developed a difference with Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and joined PML(N).
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PML
|
Engineer Amir Muqam | 26,928 | 42.40 | ||
| ANP
|
Sadid ur Rehman | 15,740 | 24.78 | −6.30 | |
| PPPP
|
Dr Afsar ul Mulk Khan | 12,999 | 20.47 | +0.88 | |
| MMA
|
Rahat Hussain | 6,477 | 10.20 | −33.01 | |
| Independent | Safeer Khan | 1,171 | 1.85 | ||
| Independent | Muhammad Saleem | 193 | 0.30 | −0.58 | |
| Majority | 11,188 | 17.62 | |||
| Turnout | 63,508 | 26.04 | −1.36 | ||
| PML gain from MMA | |||||
2013
editAmir Muqam Contested 2013 from NA-30 (Swat-II) however, he lost the seat from Salim Rehman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PTI | Salim Rehman | 49,976 | 31.49 | ||
| PML(N) | Amir Muqam | 33,027 | 20.81 | ||
| JUI (F) | Muhammad Hafiz-ur-Rahman | 16,704 | 10.52 | ||
| PPP | Syed Allauddin | 16,373 | 10.32 | ||
| ANP | Khurshid | 15,595 | 9.83 | ||
| JI | Fazal-e-Subhan | 11,367 | 7.16 | ||
| Valid ballots | 158,717 | 95.64 | |||
| Rejected ballots | 7,228 | 4.36 | |||
| Turnout | 165,945 | 35.88 | |||
| Majority | 16,949 | 10.68 | |||
| PTI gain from PPP | |||||
2018
editIn 2018, Amir Muqam contested two provisional seats NA-29 (Peshawar-III) and NA-2 (Swat-I). He finished fourth in NA-29 (Peshawar-III) and second in NA-2 (Swat-I). He also contested two provisional seats PK-2 (Swat) and PK 4 (Swat 3) and lost both.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PTI | Nasir Khan Yousafzai | 49,762 | 39.64 | ||
| MMA | Naeem Jan | 29,357 | 23.38 | ||
| ANP | Arbab Kamal Ahmed Khan | 20,392 | 16.24 | ||
| PML(N) | Amir Muqam | 15,458 | 12.31 | ||
| TLP | Muhammad Shafeeq | 10,569 | 8.42 | ||
| Turnout | 130,157 | 40.62 | |||
| Total valid votes | 125,538 | 96.45 | |||
| Rejected ballots | 4,619 | 3.55 | |||
| Majority | 20,405 | 16.26 | |||
| Registered electors | 320,401 | ||||
| PTI win (new seat) | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PTI | Haider Ali Khan | 61,687 | 37.21 | |
| PML(N) | Amir Muqam | 41,125 | 24.81 | |
| MMA | Naveed Iqbal | 18,055 | 10.89 | |
| PPP | Amjad Ali Khan | 16,018 | 9.66 | |
| ANP | Mumtaz Ahmed Chamoot | 14,618 | 8.82 | |
| Others | Others (five candidates) | 5,557 | 3.35 | |
Controversies and Scandals
editThe National Accountability Bureau summoned Muqam in assets beyond his known sources cases multiple times.[23][24] A new reference was filed against Amir Muqam in 2021.[25]
Amir Muqam's son was arrested over corruption charges in the construction of Alpari Road in KP's Shangla district by Federal Investigation Agency,[26] the project was assigned during Pakistan Muslim League (N) tenure on the recommendation of Ameer Muqam.[27]
References
edit- ^ "19-member federal cabinet takes oath". 2024-03-11. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
- ^ a b "Election Commission of Pakistan: Amir Muqam". Election Commission of Pakistan. Archived from the original on 31 October 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
- ^ Engineer Amir Muqam, PakistanHerald, retrieved 3 April 2012
- ^ a b c "Amir Muqam". Pakistan Leaders Online database. Archived from the original on 15 October 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
- ^ "Brother to vacate NA seat for Amir Muqam". dawn.com. 6 August 2013. Archived from the original on 25 March 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
- ^ "Amir Muqam Election 2002". Election Pakistani.
- ^ a b c "Amir Muqam is PML-N's best bet". The News. April 19, 2017.
- ^ "Musharraf's 'brother'". 7 May 2013.
- ^ NA-31 (Shangla)Result: Announced, ECP, archived from the original on 18 May 2012, retrieved 3 April 2012
- ^ Amir Muqam joins PML-N, Pakistan Today, 29 Mar 2012, retrieved 3 April 2012
- ^ Shujaat dissolves PML-Q KP chapter to preempt Muqam's defection, Pakistan Today, 29 Mar 2012, retrieved 3 April 2012
- ^ Amir Muqam appointed PML-N's senior vice president, archived from the original on 2013-10-19
- ^ Amir Muqam quits 'Q' to join PML-N, The News, 29 Mar 2012, archived from the original on 3 April 2012, retrieved 3 April 2012
- ^ "100 new MNAs-elect to make debut in NA today". 1 June 2013. Archived from the original on 6 March 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
- ^ "Form-15s missing in many constituencies won by PTI". www.thenews.com.pk. Archived from the original on 4 March 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
- ^ "NA 2 Swat 1, Election 2018". Geo TV.
- ^ "NA 29 Peshawar 3, Election 2018". Geo TV.
- ^ "PK2, Election 2018". Geo TV.
- ^ http://test1947.ecp.gov.pk/ConstResult.aspx?Const_Id=NA-31&type=NA[dead link]
- ^ http://test1947.ecp.gov.pk/ConstResult.aspx?Const_Id=NA-30&type=NA [dead link]
- ^ "ECP – Election Commission of Pakistan". www.ecp.gov.pk. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
- ^ "ECP – Election Commission of Pakistan". www.ecp.gov.pk. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
- ^ "NAB Summons PML-N leader Amir Muqam in assets case". Ary News. 23 Sep 2020.
- ^ "PML-N's Ameer Muqam under NAB investigation". Dawn Newspaper. 5 April 2018.
- ^ "NAB launches new probe against Amir Muqam". Dawn Newspaper. May 20, 2021.
- ^ "FIA arrests son of Ameer Muqam over corruption charges". Ary News. 14 May 2019.
- ^ "PML-N leader Amir Muqam's son arrested over 'corruption'". Dawn Newspaper. 13 May 2019.