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Zahid Hamid inducted to federal cabinet as climate change minister
ISLAMABAD: Zahid Hamid, who had relinquished his post as the federal law minister last year, took oath as federal minister for climate change at a ceremony arranged at the Presidency on Tuesday.
Hamid was administered oath by President Mamnoon Hussain. The ceremony was attended by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, parliamentarians and other high ranking officials.
Hamid had tendered his resignation from the federal cabinet last year after a special court hearing the treason trial against former military ruler Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf named him as one of the abettors of the former president.
In its ruling, the court had directed the government to include Hamid as one of the co-accused alongside former PM Shaukat Aziz and former CJP Abdul Hameed Dogar.
At that time, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar had dismissed speculation that Hamid's resignation came in the wake of the inclusion of his name in the charge sheet.
But days later, Hamid's resignation was accepted by premier Nawaz Sharif.
PML-N's Mushahidullah, who was the former minister for climate change, had been asked by the premier to give up his portfolio earlier this year after the former made 'inappropriate' remarks relating to the army and former ISI chief Lt Gen Zaheerul Islam.
Zahid Hamid's political career
Hamid was born on October 24, 1947 in Lahore. He completed his BA Honours and MA from Cambridge University UK and LLB degree from Punjab University.
He is a lawyer by profession and has been a civil servant and an industrialist with legislative interests in environment, finance and law.
Following Musharraf's military takeover in 1999, Hamid defected to the breakaway faction of the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) called the Pakistan Muslim League - Quaid (PML-Q) and was elected MNA from NA-114, Sialkot-V in the 2002 election.
Hamid had held the portfolio of law minister in the Musharraf government and was said to be a close aide of the former army strongman. Before the 2008 elections, he joined the PML-N.
Comments (19) Closed
Looks like a reward.
What results would one expect from such a long train of federal ministers except long convey of "security" personell and thick pensions one day, noit to mention other prieveleges enjoyed at the cost of poor man during the ruling tenure? This country has more ministers than any other similar country in the world.
Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf named him as one of the abettors of the former president. Zahid is defector in 1999 from N to Q, again came in N, who knows LOOTA & defectors in future. Nawaz sharif should careful seasonal, color change politician, who are working for their personal interest not public, care NS with this type of defectors.
Joke
did Talal Ch and Danyal Aziz get any one?
Minister for climate change? I guess he will change the room climate where he sits
Rolling stone trying to gather the mass.
As long as he understands the purpose of this post is not to fly around the world attending conferences but to work to mitigate effects of floods and drought at home (not to mention induced water shortage by India), he might be useful. But I don't have high hopes.
@Funny defector : The defectors created new league, Conven-tions, Q, Pak Muslim Legue,(Sh Rashid group) Nawaz, Pagara, Sajahat, Chatta you named its. wait and see what happen next where Zahid Hamid will go to next step ?????
Same Faces, under Different Parties, with different Designations.
What the environment & forest Minister will do now ? This minister will change party at the end of this Govt tenure and shift to which having possibility to form govt after general election.
...and we all know how much he knows about climate change....!
What are his qualifications?
That makes him a man with the floating base!
in overnight he became an Angel and by the way what are his credentials which prompted Govt to switch him from being a Fed Law Minister to Climate Change Minister?.
so this is how PMLN rewarded him for something which this guy will do in coming days. or this gentleman has some plans to import windmills for cheap electricity ?.
may i know his former education as a climatologist...May be he is hired to change the climate of Pakistan political arena...Climate change is happening in our country ,and we the Pakistanis are causing it, and I think this is perhaps the most serious environmental issue facing us....let us change our environment for a change with a new and fresh leadership...or else we are heading to a serious disaster...
minister for climate change? Do we really need this ministry? or can we actually afford such redundant ministries? I think no, we don't, we can't.
Another white elephant.
Actually, no one will give a damn, about whatever we all way here.
But certainly the "Changer" minister has already started building his bucks.