Chaudhary Shabbir Ahmad Ex-MPA

By: Raja Nusrat Ali
Ex-MPA Chaudhary Shabbir Ahmed has been the member of Punjab Assembly from 2013AD to 2018AD and he worked far beyond the expectations of the people of his constituency. Besides developmental work in the constituency he was very considerate in addressing the individual problems of the people. As a member of the District Committee of Overseas Pakistanis Commission Punjab he made untiring efforts to address the problems of overseas Pakistanis of his district. This all was extraordinary on the part of Chaudhary Shabbir Ahmad because before being in active politics he was ever seen flanked by moneyed overseas friends at parties and other different engagements. He was used to flying to Europe and back at short intervals. So the common man did not think of him interested in common people and their problems like his brothers Chaudhary Muhammad Ali Tanveer and Chaudhary Abid Raza. But amazingly in his election campaign and later he proved himself very public friendly, candid, sociable and easily accessible for all. His first five years as an elected public representative was a pleasant experience for him and he was popular and favourite candidate in the constituency for the second term too but the Higher level manipulations of election 2018 impacted Chaudhary Shabbir Ahmad’s election negatively too. It is an open secret that the PML(N) top leadership was implicated in corruption cases and also unfavorable judicial verdicts against Sharif family came on the very occasion of Elections 2018. It was just to curtail the public representation of PML(N) and convey to its voters and supporters about its uncertain future. It affected the election of Ch Shabbir Ahmad adversely and he lost with a very narrow margin most probably through possible wrong tactics of his opponent.
Only his younger brother Chaudhary Abid Raza was able to win the national assembly seat for PML(N) from district Gujrat. Chaudhary Shabbir Ahmad and his brothers did not lose contact with the people during the period PTI was in power in Punjab. Dera remained open for the people round the clock and Kotla brothers had been available to address the people’s problems and raise voice for any issue of public interest. Chaudhary Shabbir Ahmad is again a candidate in coming elections with new enthusiasm and enhanced experience. Certainly, he will make best use of his wide range social contacts to mobilize the public of his constituency in his favour.
He had reached Europe in his early twenties and his stay there impacted his mindset too but positively to make him look more cultured. He did not take long to adjust and gather the Pakistani community around him. He organized the Pakistani community and helped and guided the people in the process of their settlement in foreign land. When General Musharraf came into power in Pakistan the Chaudharies of Gujrat were in a position to resolve the disputes between their allied group and Kotla brothers. So they did but they also wanted Kotla brothers to support them politically. Brothers were divided. Chaudhary Abid Raza did not compromise his family’s identity and honour and stood against the difficult odds. At that time, it was a difficult and bold decision on the part of Kotla brothers and Chaudhary Shabbir Ahmad backed that decision.
Chaudhary Shabbir Ahmad is a very talented and born politician beyond doubt but there are some other factors too to make him a successful politician. Firstly, he belongs to a family best known for its nobility, strength and social and political dominance. The dera Chaudhary Abdul Mlik has been the hub of political and social matters of the area for several decades. It possesses the history of resolving rivalries and disputes among the groups and individuals and addressing the major collective problems of the people of the area. Secondly his father Chaudhary Abdul Malik was not reputed for being very wealthy or landlord, but he was popular due to his bravery and public mindedness. He used to outplay other people of his level in public connections and support for the people in distress. His courage, statesmanship and selflessness for others was so recognized by his contemporaries that the families of his notable friends, acquaintances and his beneficiaries still remember their past connections with him with pride. He had never been member of provincial or national assembly or did not inherit the title like Zaildar or Safaid Posh but his God blessed capabilities to face challenges of life earned him high place in the society. Ch Abdul Malik possessed the honour to host the rally of the Great Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto in Kotla Arab Ali Khan before the Elections 1970. Although there was no shortage of notable Bhutto fans in district Gujrat, the most onerous task of holding a rally of the Great Bhutto was taken upon himself by Chaudhary Abdul Malik. Only he could accept that challenge because one of Bhutto’s strong rivals Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi (Late) lived in Gujrat. Ch Abdul Malik’s sons also repeated his father’s example and invited Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif to address the big rally in Kotla Arab Khan but their father’s deed was an exceptional one. His rivalries impacted his sons’ career. Chaudhary Shabbir Ahmad had to give up college education due to unfavorable conditions to live a normal life in his native town. Chaudhary Abdul Malik’s interest about the education of his sons is not known but he instilled in them courage, manly living and sense of family traditions. So his sons are following in his footsteps and are successful and popular in politics without higher or foreign education.
If the political process in Pakistan continues without interruption the politics of Chaudhary Shabbir Ahmad will flourish and outshine and certainly it will be a very welcome development for the people of his constituency and overall, for the politics of district Gujrat.