Farooq Leghari
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Sardar Farooq Ahmad Khan Leghari (b. May 29, 1940) was President of Pakistan from November 14, 1993 until December 2, 1997.
Leghari was born in Dera Ghazi Khan on May 29 of 1940. He comes from a political family that had been active in politics in this part of the world since the pre-colonial days. His father Sardar Muhammad Khan Leghari and grand father Sir Nawab Muhmammad Jamal Khan Leghari had been ministers. After his initial schooling at the "Eaton" of Pakistan, Aitchison College, Lahore where he was the head boy and declared the Best Leaving Student of 1957, He graduated with honours from the Foreman Christian College, Lahore where again he was amongst the best students, he went on to study at Oxford University. After returning to Pakistan he joined the Civil Service and served for quite sometime in East Pakistan now Bangladesh. On the death of his father he resigned from service and came back to his roots to look after the tribal affairs of his tribe. He is the head of the Leghari tribe. He joined the Pakistan Peoples Party, and was made the leader of that party upon the imprisonment of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. However, later Leghari was also imprisoned during the military regime of Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, only to be freed upon the death of the general.
In 1993, with the express support of his leader Benazir Bhutto he ran for President, and won the election against Wasim Sajjad. In time his relationships with Benazir Bhutto and her husband Asif Ali Zardari deteriorated. Having tolerated the couple's corruption for a number of years, he used it as a pretext to dismiss Benazir Bhutto's government. The true reason of their falling out is believed to be of a more personal nature. The 1997 general elections brought Nawaz Sharif to power. Leghari and Sharif soon had a falling out and a personal power struggle ensued between them. Shortly after Sharif's supporters ransacked the Supreme Court, Leghari was forced to resign.
Since then, Leghari has set up his own party. His new party has been in its first ever general elections did quite well and has several legislators (nearly all Legharis and other family memebers)in the provincial and national parliaments. His son Awais Ahmed Leghari is the federal minister for Telecom and IT.
| Preceded by : Wasim Sajjad |
Presidents of Pakistan | Succeeded by: Wasim Sajjad |