Ghulam Mustafa Khar
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Ghulam Mustafa Khar Malik (Urdu: غلام مصطفیٰ کھر), (born August 2, 1937) was a close ally of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and his chief minister in Punjab, Pakistan during the 1970s. Khar was one of the founders of the Pakistan People's Party(PPP), Khar was also jailed by the Zia ul Haq regime after the 1977 coup.
Ghulam Mustafa Khar is one of the major landowners in Pakistan where property is still the primary source of power and wealth,and has become a Billionaire in US Dollers. Mustafa Khar was once dubbed "Lion of the Punjab" by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto after a massive election victory, and served as the Chief Minister and Governor of the Punjab in the 1970s.
During his time as Governor he earned notoriety for his multiple marriages, womanising and hard drinking life style a fact which outraged conservative Pakistani's and in particular the opposition party Jamaat-e-Islami(JI). In August 1972 the JI activists took it upon themselves to secure the release of two girls who had allegedly been abducted by Khar. They held a rally in Lahore, which was well attended, and public pressure secured the release of the abducted girls and embarrassed the government.
Khar also clashed with party members like Sheikh Ahmad Rashid Federal Minister for land reforms over land reforms. The Sheikh-Khar tussle led to protracted infighting within the PPP however because of his close personal relationship with Bhutto Khar finally prevailed. It was during this time that he was alleged to have played a role in attacks on Opposition Leaders including Wali Khan, Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi (father of former Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaaat) and Sherbaz Mazari.
However Khar fell out with Bhutto and joined the opposition Muslim League to contest a bye election. Overwhelmed by the full weight of the government machinery placed against him Khar was easily defeated by the PPP candidate.
After sometime in the political wilderness he rejoined Bhutto before the 1977 general elections. Arrested after the imposition of Martial law Khar slipped out of the country after an understanding with Military dictator Zia-ul Haq. He promptly went back into opposition politics after leaving the country a fact which infuriated Zia and led to the withdrawal of an offer to become Prime Minister to Khar's close friend Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi.
Returning to Pakistan before the 1988, Khar had by this point fallen out with Benazir Bhutto and with Army backing created the National Peoples Party (NPP) along with Jatoi and other PPP disidents. The Army believed they needed to neutralise Benazir Bhutto's influence in Sindh with a Sindhi and wanted to use Jatoi for that, Khar in the meantime contested for several seats in the Punjab and won all of them. Jatoi suffered a shock defeat.
Jatoi became caretaker Prime Minister in 1990 after Benazirs removal but Punjab Chief minister and Khar rival Nawaz Sharif outmanoeuvered Jatoi and ended up Prime Minister. Khar eventually ended up rejoining the PPP before the 1993 elections. Re-elected he served as Federal Minister for Water and Power under Benazir Bhutto. Defeated in the 1997 election he was not able to contest the 2002 elections because of a restriction placed on non-graduates from contesting.
Khar has recently rejoined the PPP and is actively campaigning to become the Party Punjab President.
[edit] My Feudal lord
One of Khars wives, Tehmina Durrani shocked Khar in the 1990's by publishing a tell-all book about their marriage, the book proved a massive hit and included shocking revelations of the life style of Pakistans feudal class. It included details of rape, abuse and attempted coups.She told how Khar would indulge in mistress dominatrix and perform striptease for dancers
