Fazal Elahi Chaudhry is a Pakistani Politician who served as the 5th president of Pakistan. He has remained as the member and the Speaker of the National Assembly. Fazal has also served as Minister of Education. He was an intelligent advocate as well. He also represented Pakistan in the United Nations in 1951. He took his last on 2nd June 1982. This article has all the information about Fazal, including Fazal Elahi Chaudhry Biography.
Title | Description |
---|---|
Personal | |
Name: | Fazal Elahi Chaudhry |
In Urdu: | فضل الہی چودہری |
Famous As: | Politician |
Nationality: | Pakistani |
Residence: | Lahore |
Education: | LLM |
Alma Mater: | University of Punjab |
Religion: | Islam |
Profession: | Politician |
Born | |
Date: | 1st January 1904 |
Place: | Kharian, Punjab, British India |
Family | |
Spouse: | Married |
Children: | Chaudhry Ata Elahi |
Siblings : | Haji Rehamdad Ilahi |
Relatives: | Muhammad Akram (Nephew) |
Died | |
Date: | 2nd June 1982 |
Rest Place: | Lahore |
Career | |
Political Party: | Pakistan Peoples Party |
Serve As: | 5th President of Pakistan |
Proceeded by: | Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto |
Time Period : | 14 August 1973 – 16 September 1978 |
Member of the National Assembly | |
Preceded by: | Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto |
Assumed office: | 15 August 1972 – 13 August 1973 |
Ministry : | 8th Speaker of the National Assembly |
Table of Contents
Fazal Elahi Chaudhry Biography
Fazal is an important personality in the history of Pakistan. Though he was successful in his practice as an advocate, he joined politics in 1930 and was elected for the first time unopposed. The career of Fazal continued until he was elected as the President of Pakistan. He was the first President to be elected after the new constitution of Pakistan was passed in 1973. He has served as an opposition leader, Speaker of the National Assembly, and represented Pakistan in the United Nations. His service has greatly benefitted Pakistan
Chaudhry date of Birth
He was born on January 1, 1904, in Kharian, Punjab, British India.
Fazal Elahi Chaudhry Family
He was born in a well established Gujjar family. Most of his family members took part in politics. His brother Rahamdad was a Senator while his son Chaudhry Ata was a member of the National Assembly. One of his nephews served as a member of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab. His other nephew, Muhammad Akram, was an Inspector General Police of Islamabad.
Education of Fazal Elahi
Fazal Ilahi was an educated man. He got his early education in his district and then enrolled in Aligarh Muslim University in 1920. Later he completed his LLB in Civil Law in 1924. After one year, in 1925, he obtained a Master’s degree in Political Science from the Postgraduate school of Punjab University. His last degree was LLM in Law and Justice in 1927.
Political career
- He is a man with a rich political career. His political career started in 1930 when he took part in the Indian General elections and elected unopposed for Gujarat. He continued his career with the Muslim League and joined it in 1942. It was a total risk for him because the Muslim League had lost the previous election in 1935. In 1946, Fazal Ilahi participated in the elections and won it comfortably.
- After the partition, his importance increased as the country needed someone educated and experienced. He was appointed as a Minister in Liaqat Ali Khan Government. He was soon appointed as the Parliamentary Secretary and then the Minister of Education and Health. In the 1951 elections, Chaudhry contested the elections from the ticket of Punjab and became a member of Punjab Assembly. Bangladesh was then the part of Pakistan and was called West Pakistan.
- He participated in the 1956 elections and elected as the Member of West Pakistan Assembly. After the election, he became the Speaker of the West Pakistan Assembly from 20th May 1956 to 7th October, 1958. In 1965, he was elected as Deputy Opposition Leader in 1962. It was purely because of his experience and knowledge. In 1665, Fazal Ch was elected as the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly. The duration of this post was 4 years from 21st January, 1965 to 25th March, 1969.
As a President
- Fazal Ilahi Chaudhry continued his political career with Pakistan People’s party. In the next election, he contested from the ticket of PPP. In 1970, he was again elected as a member of the National Assembly and became the 8th speaker of the National Assembly on August 15, 1972 till August 13, 1973. After he resigned from the seat of the Speaker, he contested the election for the seat of president.
- He had to contest the election against all of the opposition. His opponent was Khan Amirzadah Khan from NAP now ANP (Awami National Party). He won the election and became the fifth president of Pakistan. Fazal took charge on 14th August, 1973, and resigned on 16th December, 1978. It was the first time that someone was elected as the president of Pakistan after the 1973 constitution.
- He was probably one of the weakest presidents of the country. Before this, all the power belonged to the president. It was due to the new constitution that limited the power of the president and gave all the authority to the Prime Minister which had never happened before. He could see himself as a president who could not do anything. He could only appoint the prime minister. His tenure lasted till 16th September, 1978.
Resignation
He resigned after the military takeover of Zia ul Haq, he resigned from his post and the military to control of the country. He was greatly respected by Zia and used to visit him in his last times. He died on 2nd June, 1982. Rarely, the country has seen an educated politician like him. His services were of immense importance. He always presented himself in the times when the country needed him the most. His greatest contribution was during the partition. First, he spread the movement of Pakistan in his area and then he provided himself to the government and served under Liaquat Ali Khan which was a difficult time.