Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain (, born 27 January 1946) is a Pakistani politician who served as 14th prime minister of Pakistan. Hussain is the party president of the PML(Q) since 2003. from the Punjab province of Pakistan, Hussain graduated from the FC College University and the Punjab University. After his graduation, Hussain subsequently joined the family business comprising large numbers of industries, textiles, agricultural farms, sugar and flour mills. Hussain became a leader and influential conservative figure in the Islamic Democratic Alliance (IDA) between 1988 and 1990 and joined the Pakistan Muslim League (PML) under Nawaz Sharif in 1993.

His family remains influential in national politics and his cousin Pervez Illahi served as Chief Minister of Punjab 2007 Twice,from 2002 to 2007 during Musharraf's military rule and in 2022.

Following the 2008 elections and Musharraf's resignation, Hussain and his party became a major ally of Prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani and President Asif Ali Zardari from the Pakistan Peoples Party.

Early life and education

Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain was born on 27 January 1946 in the Gujrat District, Punjab, of former British Indian Empire. He was born in a Punjabi Jat family belonging to Warraich clan. His ancestors hailed from rural Gujrat and had no initial political background. His father Zahoor Elahi was in Punjab Police but quit the police service to establish a cotton mill. His family lost a cotton mill as a result of Indian partition but re-established the mill in Gujrat after the establishment of Pakistan in 1947. By this time, Hussain's family had become a potent industrial oligarchs and had significant influence on presidents Ayub Khan and General Yahya Khan. After participating in a local-body elections, Hussain became a Member of the Parliament in 1981 and, subsequently joining the Punjab government's Financial department. Hussain benefited with general Zia's economic policies.

Interior ministry

Hussain was the leading member of right-wing alliance, the Islamic Democratic Alliance (IDA) and won parliamentary seat during 1988 general elections, and headed the Parliamentary Party of Joint Opposition (PPJO) in the National Assembly from 1988 to 1990.

Pakistan Muslim League

After the coup, Hussain did not join the Pakistan Muslim League, a splinter group of PML.

After Jamali's resignation, Shujaat Husain nominated Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz for the office of Prime Minister. Shujaat became Prime Minister because Aziz could not be elected Prime Minister, as he was a member of senate.

Election as Prime Minister

The election for Prime Minister took place on 29 June 2004.

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Personal life

Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain is the eldest son of Chaudhry Zahoor Ilahi. He has two brothers, Wajahat Hussain and Shafaat Hussain, and six sisters. One of his sisters, Qaisra Elahi, is married with his cousin, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, former chief minister of Punjab. His sister Naaz Elahi is married with Tahir Sadiq Khan, former member National Assembly of Pakistan. His sister Sumaira Elahi is also active in politics. One of his sisters is married with Riaz Asghar Chaudhry, former mayor of district Mandi Bahauddin, and one of his sisters is married with Javaid Akhtar Chattha, paternal cousin of former speaker National Assembly of Pakistan Hamid Nasir Chattha.

His younger brother, Chaudhry Wajahat Hussain, has also been elected to the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab for three times (1988–1990, 1990–1993, 1997–1999) and also won from the constituency NA-104 of National Assembly in 2002 and 2008 general elections.

His Brother is Also Founder of Wajahat Force of PML-Q. A group of a few hundred people who held political and gun power in the districts of Gujrat, Mandi Bahauddin, Sargodha and Hafizabad. After the 2018 and 2024 elections, Wajahat Hussain's two sons also became members of the national and provincial assemblies.

Honors from South Korea

Hussain had been a strong and vocal supporter of Pakistan's bilateral relations with South Korea. He helped in bringing South Korea investment in the country and supports South-Korean model of economy in the country. Hussain is investor in defence production, military technological development, and industrial mills. On the one hand, the wealth inherited from his father and on the other hand, due to his 11 consecutive years in government from 1997 to 2008, Chaudhry made immense wealth in real estate and sugar mills. According to an estimate, in 2008, his wealth spread across Europe was estimated to be around 2.5 billion USD.

Books

By him

  • Sach To Yeh Hai! (‏سچّ تو يه هے; "This Is The Truth!"), Lahore : Firoz Shah Publications, 2018, 328 p. <small>Autobiography</small>.

About him

  • Ch. Shujat Danishwaron Ke Nazr Maen (چوهدرى شجاعت حسين : دانشوروں کى نضر ميں; "Shujat The Man : Scholars' Eye View"), Lahore : Sanj Publications, 2020, 234 p.

See also

  • Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi
  • Chaudhry Salik Hussain

References

  • Some facts of Ch Shujaat hussain
  • Story Of Pakistan Profile
  • Official Website of Pakistan Muslim League

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