Raza Ahmed Shah

Raza Ahmed Shah, son of Ahmed Shah, was born in Rawalpindi on March 18, 1965. He studied at the Sir Syed Public School, Tipu Road and Government College, Asghar Mall, Rawalpindi. He graduated from the University of the Punjab, Lahore. When at school, he was inspired by his teachers Mr. Riaz and English teacher Mrs Rehana. In the childhood, Raza Ahmed Shah used to play hockey and his position in the hockey team of his school was left out while in those days he dreamt about becoming pilot of a fighter jet. He wants the young generation of today to get higher education so that they could meet the challenges of the modern era. In 1981, Raza Ahmed Shah joined the People’s Students Federation (Liberal) when he was studying at the Government College, Asghar Mall. He joined the Jamaat-e-Islami in 1985 as a worker and Shabab-e-Milli in 1993 while he was elected president of Shabab-e-Milli’s Rawalpindi district chapter. He contested election for a seat of the Legislative Assembly of Azad Kashmir from LA-38 (Valley-IV) constituency in 1996 on Jamaat-e-Islami ticket but could not win. He was again elected president of Rawalpindi district chapter of Shabab-e-Milli in 2000 for three years. Then he was elected vice president of its Punjab chapter and worked in this capacity till 2005. In 2003, he won by-election for office of the nazim of Union Council 26 Affendi Colony, Sadiqabad, Rawalpindi and served in this capacity till 2005. Raza Ahmed Shah went to jail thrice. He spent one month in Kot Lakhpat Jail of Lahore when the-then Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee visited Pakistan in 1998 and one-and-a-half month in Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi. He was again jailed for sometime in March 2007. Currently living at 55/7A, Satellite Town, Rawalpindi, Raza Ahmed Shah likes the saying: “Time is a great healer.” Among leaders of today, he is inspired by the leadership of Jamaat-e-Islami chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed and Syed Ali Gillani of Azad Kashmir. The salient features of his manifesto include equal education opportunities for all and struggle against the oppression and injustice. In case being elected again, he wants to work for improvement of sewerage system, establishment of school for girls and provision of clean drinking water in his area. Raza Ahmed Shah, who considers Jamaat-e-Islami chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed as the best choice for office of Pakistan’s prime minister, was inspired by late Muhammad Khan Junejo among the past leaders of the country. He considers the flawed justice system of the country as the most serious problem. His hobbies include reading religious books and hunting ducks and partridges. Among the writers, he likes Qudratullah Shahab while Faiz Ahmed Faiz is his favourite poet. He used to listen to music in the past and liked Ghulam Ali and Munni Begum but now he is less inclined towards the music. He likes to watch hockey and swimming. Among animals, he likes white bear while has pet dogs. Raza Ahmed Shah visited AJK and Indian Held Kashmir border as senior vice president of Shabab-e-Milli Punjab with a delegation while the Indian shelling on Nausehri in Neelum Valley left lasting impression on his life. He is married with three children and has one brother and two sisters.