Mian Muhammad Azhar

Mian Muhammad Azhar (Urdu: میاں محمد اظہر‎) is a senior Pakistani politician representing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. He Is from a noble Arain family of Lahore Pakistan. He remains a major political player in Lahore . He is a former governor of Punjab (1990-1992) and the founder of PML-Q,^[1] of which he was also president until retiring from politics. Azhar was mayor of Lahore between 1987-1991.^[2]

Being a close aide of Nawaz Sharif in past, he was also awarded the NA ticket from NA-95, the seat vacated by Nawaz Sharif after the 1988 polls. Azhar also remained victorious in those elections as the candidate of Islami Jamhoori Ittehad. In 1990, after the dismissal of Benazir Bhutto s first government, he replaced Gen (Rtd) Tikka Khan and became the governor of Punjab and held the office till 1992.He, however, left the office, which Muslim League insiders, said was due to the differences with Sharifs. In 1997 once again, he got elected as MNA on PML-N ticket from NA-92. His relations with Sharifs got bitter gradually and finally with the dismissal of Nawaz Sharif s government, he became the head of a new Muslim League called PML-Q. In the 2002 polls, while he was dubbed as the strongest candidate for the slot of prime minister, he, in a dramatic way, lost NA elections from both seats of Lahore and Sheikhupura whereas his party managed to form government in the Centre and two provinces amid charges of massive rigging.His defeat in elections eventually resulted in slipping of the Party chair slot from his hands. He once again tried to make a comeback in the 2008 polls but could not win the polls.^[3][4][5]

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