Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar

2021-12-22T13:53:39Z

2409:4040:D95:3815:0:0:B648:210:

{{Short description|Governor of Punjab, Pakistan}}
{{Other uses|Mohammad Sarwar (disambiguation){{!}}Mohammad Sarwar}}
{{Distinguish|Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar Khan}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2015}}
{{BLP sources|date=August 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar
| native_name = {{lang|ur|{{nq|محمد سرور}}}}
| image = MohdSarwar.JPG
| caption = Sarwar in 2003
| office = 31st and 33rd [[Governor of Punjab, Pakistan|Governor of Punjab]]
| term_start = 5 September 2018
| term_end =
| president = [[Arif Alvi]]
| primeminister = [[Imran Khan]]
| predecessor = [[Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi]]
| successor =
| term_start1 = 15 August 2013
| term_end1 = 29 January 2015
| president1 = [[Mamnoon Hussain]]
| primeminister1 = [[Nawaz Sharif]]
| predecessor1 = [[Makhdoom Ahmed Mehmood]]
| successor1 = [[Rafique Rajwana]]
| office2 =[[Senate of Pakistan|Pakistani Senator]] from [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]]
|term_start2 =12 March 2018
|term_end2 = 4 September 2018
|constituency2 = General Seat
| office3 = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of the Parliament, United Kingdom]] for [[Glasgow Central (UK Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Central]] {{nobold|[[Glasgow Govan (UK Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Govan]] (1997–2005)}}
| term_start3 = 1 May 1997
| term_end3 = 12 April 2010
| predecessor3 = [[Ian Davidson (British politician)|Ian Davidson]]
| successor3 = [[Anas Sarwar]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1952|08|18|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Pirmahal]], [[West Punjab|Punjab]], [[Dominion of Pakistan|Pakistan]]
| nationality = [[Pakistani]] [[United Kingdom|British]] (until 2013)
| spouse = Perveen Sarwar
| party = [[Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf]] (2015–present)
| otherparty = [[Pakistan Muslim League (N)]] (2012–2015) [[Scottish Labour|Labour (UK)]] (until 2010)
| relations =
| children = 4 (3 sons, 1 daughter), including [[Anas Sarwar]]
| residence =
| alma_mater = [[University of Faisalabad]]
| occupation =
| profession =
| signature =
| website = {{URL|www.sarwar.pk}}
| footnotes =
}}

'''Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar''' ([[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] and {{lang-ur|{{Nastaliq|محمد سرور}}}}; born 18 August 1952) is a [[Pakistani]] and former British politician who currently serves as the 33rd [[Governor of Punjab, Pakistan|Governor of Punjab]],{{refn|name=Gcounts|group=n|Ignoring the five [[Governor of Punjab, Pakistan|Caretaker Governors of Punjab]]}} in office since 5 September 2018. He is affiliated with the [[Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf]] (PTI) party<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2015/02/11/sarwar-eyes-top-slot-after-joining-khans-team/|title=Sarwar eyes top slot after joining Khan's team|first1=Mukhtar Chaudhry-February|last1=11|first2=2015|last2=Said|publisher=Nawa Media |work=Pakistan Today}}</ref> and was a member of the [[Senate of Pakistan]] from March 2018 until September 2018.<ref name="Manan 01">{{cite web|last1=Abdul|first1=Manan|title=Governor Punjab M Sarwar resigns after making anti-govt remarks|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/829511/governor-punjab-chaudhry-sarwar-resigns/|work=The Express Tribune|access-date=29 January 2015|publisher=Lakson Group}}</ref> From 1997 to 2010 Sarwar was a [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] in the [[United Kingdom]], representing a constituency in [[Glasgow]], [[Scotland]].

Born in [[Pirmahal]], [[West Punjab|Punjab]], Sarwar moved to Scotland in 1976 and built up a chain of [[cash and carry (wholesale)|cash and carry]] stores.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/uks-first-muslim-mp-mohammad-sarwar-becomes-governor-of-pakistans-punjab-province-8746743.html|title=UK's first Muslim MP Mohammad Sarwar becomes governor of Pakistan's|date=5 August 2013|publisher=ESI Media|work=The Independent|author=Andrew Buncombe}}</ref> Sarwar served as the [[Scottish Labour]] [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] for [[Glasgow Central (UK Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Central]] from 1997 to 2010 and retired from UK politics in 2010. During his tenure at [[Westminster]], Sarwar served on the [[Scottish Affairs Select Committee]], and his youngest son [[Anas Sarwar]] served as MP for the same constituency from 2010 to 2015. He was the country's first [[Muslim]] Member of Parliament.<ref name=whowho>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U33889|title=SARWAR, Mohammad|work=Who's Who 2010 Online Edition|publisher=Oxford University Press|date=November 2009|access-date=26 April 2010}}</ref>

He relinquished UK citizenship in July 2013<ref>{{cite web |title=Sarwar rejects reports about his dual nationality |url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2018/03/05/sarwar-rejects-reports-about-his-dual-nationality/ |work=Pakistan Today |publisher=Nawa Media |access-date=29 March 2019 |date=5 March 2018}}</ref> and became Governor of the Punjab,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Boone |first1=Jon |title=From Glasgow MP to state governor |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/14/sarwar-glasgow-mp-pakistan-governor |work=The Guardian |publisher=Guardian News & Media|access-date=29 March 2019 |date=14 October 2013}}</ref> representing the [[Pakistan Muslim League (N)]]. He resigned from the position on 29 January 2015 after disagreeing with government foreign policy. He joined the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party (PTI) on 10 February 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/835989/will-officially-join-pti-today-chaudhry-sarwar/|title=Former governor Punjab muhammad Sarwar joins PTI|work=The Express Tribune|date=10 February 2015}}</ref>

He was elected to the [[Senate of Pakistan]] in March 2018<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1651086/1-chaudhry-sarwars-victory-cathces-pml-n-off-guard/|title=Muhammad Sarwar's victory catches PML-N off guard|date=4 March 2018|work=The Express Tribune|access-date=6 March 2018|author=Sardar Sikander}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1392940|title=Senate elections: PML-N bags lion's share; PPP outperforms, PTI meets expectations|date=3 March 2018|work=Dawn.com|access-date=6 March 2018}}</ref> and appointed Governor of Punjab on 8 August 2018.<ref>{{cite web|author=Pakistan |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/353355-pti-nomnates-asad-qaiser-for-national-assembly-speaker |title=Asad Qaiser NA Speaker, M Sarwar nominated as Governor Punjab | Pakistan |work=The News International |date=10 August 2018|access-date=26 August 2018}}</ref>

==Early and family life==
Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar was born to a [[Punjabi people|Punjabi]] Arain family in Sain De Khuie, a village near [[Lyallpur]] (now Faisalabad), Pakistan. The Arain tribe is ancient and traces its roots back to Arabian tribes who arrived in the Indian subcontinent in the year 711AD-712AD with the invading army of ‘Muhammad bin Qasim’ hence Arain people are offspring of Arab soldiers. In 1976 Sarwar moved to Scotland.<ref name=fatbuzz-sarwar>{{cite web |url=http://fatbuzz.tv/clients/governorofpunjab/biography/mohammad-sarwar/ |title=Biography – Mohammad Sarwar |publisher=FatBuzz|access-date=11 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111164922/http://fatbuzz.tv/clients/governorofpunjab/biography/mohammad-sarwar/ |archive-date=11 November 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> That year he married Perveen Sarwar, with whom he has three sons and one daughter.<ref name=whowho/>

In 1982 Sarwar and his brother founded United Wholesale Grocers, a [[wholesale]] [[cash and carry (wholesale)|cash and carry]] business. In 2002 the brothers split the business, with Sarwar renaming his part as United Wholesale (Scotland) while his brother retained the previous name.<ref name=bbc-2007-05-24>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/6687889.stm|title=MP's son guilty of huge cash scam|work=BBC News|date=24 May 2007|access-date=5 June 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|url=http://www.cbonline.co.uk/0,,62356,00.html |title=Bank Raises A Glass After Signing-Up United Wholesale Grocers|publisher=Clydesdale Bank|date=21 February 2005|access-date=5 June 2007|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070704233859/http://www.cbonline.co.uk/0,,62356,00.html |archive-date = 4 July 2007}}</ref>

His eldest son was accused of an £850,000 [[missing trader fraud]] in United Wholesale (Scotland) while he was [[managing director]] in 2003. In 2011 the [[Court of Criminal Appeal (Scotland)|Court of Criminal Appeal]] overturned his earlier conviction in 2007 for the fraud.<ref name=bbc-2007-05-24 /><ref name=bbc-20110210>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-12417283 |title=Former MP Sarwar's son cleared of £850,000 fraud |work=BBC News |date=10 February 2011 |access-date=10 February 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2007/05/24/sarwar_money_laundering_carousel/|title=MP's son guilty of VAT carousel fraud|author=Kelly Fiveash|date=24 May 2007|website=The Register|access-date=5 June 2007}}</ref> Mohammad Sarwar was a remunerated director of the company,<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmregmem/memi25.htm|title=Register of Members' Interests|date=4 December 2003|publisher=UK Parliament}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/regmem/?p=10528|title=Changes to the Register of Members' Interests – Mohammad Sarwar|journal=TheyWorkForYou|access-date=16 August 2007|publisher=MySociety}}</ref> but never accused of involvement in the alleged fraud.

==British political career ==
[[File:Mohammad Sarwar MP Constituency Office - geograph.org.uk - 1093899.jpg|thumb|left|Mohammad Sarwar MP Constituency Office Located on Paisley Road West]]

Sarwar first stood as a [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] councillor for [[Pollokshields|Pollokshields East]] at the 1987 [[Glasgow City Council]] election, almost overturning a large [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] majority. In the 1992 election he won the ward.<ref name=fatbuzz-sarwar/>
Sarwar was elected as MP for [[Glasgow Govan (UK Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Govan]] at the [[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997 general election]], becoming the first [[Muslim]] MP in the United Kingdom and the first Asian MP elected to represent a Scottish constituency. He was the first MP to swear the [[Oath of Allegiance (UK)|Oath of Allegiance]] on the [[Qur'an]], using the method laid out by the [[Oaths Act 1978]].<ref>{{Cite journal|url=http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/rp2000/rp00-017.pdf|page=10|title=The Parliamentary Oath|date=14 February 2000|publisher=House of Commons Library|id=Research paper 00/17|access-date=5 June 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000824155716/http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/rp2000/rp00-017.pdf|archive-date=24 August 2000|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Sarwar was suspended from holding office within the Labour Party in 1997 when he was charged with electoral offences,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.scotland.gov.uk/news/releas98_3/pr1967.htm|title=Mohammad Sarwar MP indicted|publisher=Scottish Office|date=1 October 1998|access-date=5 June 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/politics97/news/06/0625/sarwar.shtml|title="Internal Exile" for Sarwar|publisher=BBC News|work=Politics 97|year=1997|access-date=5 June 2007}}</ref> but he was acquitted in 1999 and the suspension was lifted.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/303647.stm | title=MP cleared of bribery | work=BBC News|date=25 March 1999}}</ref>

He was re-elected in Glasgow Govan at the [[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001 general election]]. The [[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005 general election]] saw boundary changes in Scotland, so he stood at and won the new constituency of [[Glasgow Central (UK Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Central]]. He faced an opponent from the [[far-right politics|far-right]] [[British National Party]], with whom he refused to share a platform, and he persuaded other candidates to do the same. The [[returning officer]] announced the result from a platform with no candidates, and Sarwar later made a speech from the floor of the hall.

Sarwar became a member of the [[Scottish Affairs Select Committee]] from 2004, and was Chairman since 2005.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?mpn=Mohammad_Sarwar&mpc=Glasgow_Central&house=commons |publisher=The Public Whip |title=Voting Record — Mohammad Sarwar |access-date=23 January 2010 }}</ref>

In August 2006, he was a signatory to an open letter to then-[[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] [[Tony Blair]] criticising UK foreign policy.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4787119.stm | title=Minister criticises Muslim letter | work=BBC News| date=12 August 2006}}</ref>

Sarwar played a crucial role in bringing to justice the killers of fifteen-year-old Glasgow schoolboy, [[Murder of Kriss Donald|Kriss Donald]]. The killers fled to [[Pakistan]], which has no extradition treaty with the [[United Kingdom|UK]]. Through his political connections, Sarwar was able to agree a one-off, no conditions attached, extradition treaty. They then faced trial and were convicted for the murder.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/6125660.stm |title=Gangsters, murder and extradition |work=BBC News |first=Bob |last=Wylie |date=8 November 2006 |access-date=23 December 2009 }}</ref>

On 21 June 2007, Sarwar announced he would not stand for re-election at the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010 general election]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/glasgow_and_west/6228920.stm | title=Sarwar plans to stand down as MP | work=BBC News|date=21 June 2007}}</ref> His son, [[Anas Sarwar]], succeeded him as Labour MP for the [[Glasgow Central (UK Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Central]] seat until the election of 2015 when it was taken by [[Alison Thewliss]] for the [[Scottish National Party|SNP]].

In November 2008, Sarwar was one of 18 MPs who signed a Commons motion backing a Team GB football team at the 2012 Olympic Games, saying football "should not be any different from other competing sports and our young talent should be allowed to show their skills on the world stage". The football governing bodies of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are all opposed to a Great Britain team, fearing it would stop them competing as individual nations in future tournaments.

His nomination by outgoing Prime Minister, [[Gordon Brown]] for a [[life peerage]] in the [[2010 Dissolution Honours]] was blocked by the [[House of Lords Appointments Commission]] on the advice of [[HM Revenue and Customs]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scotland/8025973/Muslim-MPs-peerage-blocked-by-the-taxman.html |work=The Telegraph | first=Simon | last=Johnson | title=Muslim MP's peerage blocked by the taxman | date=26 September 2010| access-date= 2 February 2021}}</ref>

== Pakistani political career ==
He played an important role in campaigning and fundraising in Britain for the centre-right conservative party [[Pakistan Muslim League (N)]] during the 2013 General election in Pakistan. Soon after [[Pakistan Muslim League (N)]] chief [[Nawaz Sharif]] was sworn in as prime minister, he showed his intentions for becoming governor of Pakistan's most populous province [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]].

On 5 August 2013, he was sworn in as the 31st [[Governor of Punjab, Pakistan|Governor of Punjab]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dawn.com/news/1034220/sarwar-takes-oath-as-35th-punjab-governor |title=Sarwar takes oath as 35th Punjab governor |publisher=Dawn Media Group|work=Dawn.com |date=5 August 2013 |access-date=23 September 2013}}</ref> As governor he criticised the government on a number of occasions. He fought the case of overseas Pakistanis whose houses and flats were confiscated by the land mafia in Pakistan but unable to redress their grievances successfully. On the occasion of Barack Obama's visit to India, he termed it as a failure of the government of [[Nawaz Sharif]]. These anti-government remarks led to his resignation.

He resigned as governor of [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]] on 29 January 2015.<ref name="Manan 01" /> On 8 February 2015, Sarwar joined [[Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf]] (PTI).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://arynews.tv/en/sarwar-agrees-join-pti-sources|title=Sarwar agrees to join PTI: sources|publisher=ARY Communications|work=ARY News|date=8 February 2015|author=Kashif Imran}}</ref>

On 3 March 2018, Sarwar was elected to the [[Senate of Pakistan]] on a general seat from [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]] after receiving 44 first priority and two second priority votes in the [[2018 Pakistani Senate election|senate elections of that year]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.samaa.tv/pakistan/2018/03/ptis-chaudhry-sarwar-wins-senate-seat/amp/|publisher=Samaa TV|title=Chaudhry Sarwar wins senate seat|date=3 March 2018}}</ref>

On 5 September 2018 Sarwar took oath as 33rd Governor of Punjab.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2018/09/05/chaudhry-sarwar-shah-farman-sworn-in-as-punjab-kp-governors/|title=Chaudhry Sarwar, Shah Farman sworn in as Punjab, KP governors|work=Pakistan Today}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1431213/sarwar-sworn-in-as-37th-governor-of-punjab|title=Sarwar sworn in as 37th governor of Punjab|date=6 September 2018|publisher=Dawn Media Group|work=Dawn.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1796346/1-sarwar-takes-oath-punjab-governor/|title=Sarwar takes oath as Punjab governor|date=6 September 2018|publisher=Lakson Group|work=The Express Tribune}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Sarwar is a supporter of Glasgow [[Association football|football]] teams [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]]<ref name=OutInForce>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/rangers-celebrity-supporters-out-in-force-976295|title=Rangers' celebrity supporters out in force for UEFA Cup final|work=Daily Record|date=3 May 2008|access-date=3 May 2008|first=John|last=Ferguson}}</ref> and [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]].<ref name=OutInForce/>

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|group=n}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|http://www.sarwar.pk/}}
*[https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/mohammad_sarwar/glasgow_central Mohammad Sarwar] TheyWorkForYou.com
*[https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2007/jun/22/politics.labour MP to quit over race case death threats] The Guardian, 22 June 2007
* {{Hansard-contribs | mr-mohammad-sarwar | Mohammad Sarwar }}

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|uk}}
{{s-bef | before = [[Ian Davidson (British politician)|Ian Davidson]] }}
{{s-ttl
| title = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] for [[Glasgow Govan (UK Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Govan]]
| years = [[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997]]–[[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005]]
}}
{{s-non | reason = Constituency abolished }}

{{s-new | constituency}}
{{s-ttl
| title = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] for [[Glasgow Central (UK Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Central]]
| years = [[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005]] – [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010]]
}}
{{s-aft | after = [[Anas Sarwar]] }}

{{s-off}}
{{succession box |title=[[Governor of Punjab (Pakistan)|Governor of Punjab]]
|years= 2 August 2013 – 29 January 2015
|before=[[Syed Ahmed Mahmud]]
|after=[[Malik Muhammad Rafique Rajwana]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Governors of Punjab, Pakistan}}
{{Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sarwar, Chaudhry Mohammad}}
[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Scottish Labour MPs]]
[[Category:British politicians of Pakistani descent]]
[[Category:Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Glasgow constituencies]]
[[Category:UK MPs 1997–2001]]
[[Category:UK MPs 2001–2005]]
[[Category:UK MPs 2005–2010]]
[[Category:Pakistani emigrants to Scotland]]
[[Category:Naturalised citizens of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:People from Faisalabad]]
[[Category:Governors of Punjab, Pakistan]]
[[Category:Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf politicians]]
[[Category:Pakistan Muslim League (N) politicians]]
[[Category:Scottish emigrants to Pakistan]]
[[Category:Scottish people of Punjabi descent]]
[[Category:Scottish politicians]]
[[Category:Pollokshields]]

IndianPedia - User contributions [en]

Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar