Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan born 27 September 1945 is a Pakistani barrister, veteran activist-politician, constitutional theorist and a left-wing statesman who serves as the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate of Pakistan.
Ahsan is a has been a member of Pakistan Peoples Party since 1975 when he become the Planning and Development Minister for Punjab. After the Operation Fair Play Ahsan became a prominent figure of the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy. Ahsan was elected to the National Assembly from Lahore in 1988, he was again elected to the National Assembly in 1990 and 2002, while served in the senate between 1994 till 1999.
Ahsan served twice in the cabinet of Benazir Bhutto between 1988 till 1990 and 1993 and 1996 as first the Interior minister of Pakistan and then as the Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights. After the assassination of Benazir Bhutto Ahsan became distant member of the Peoples party, however he was elected as Senator in 2012 and his wife was awarded party ticket to contest 2013 general elections, which she lost.
Ahsan served as the president of the Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan, he was also the de facto leader of the popular Lawyers' Movement which lead to the restoration of an independent judiciary in Pakistan, during which he was jailed several times. As a senior member lawyer, Ahsan has represented the case of several prime minister's including Nawaz Sharif, Benazir Bhutto and Yousaf Raza Gillani, also of formar chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.
Early life and education
Aitzaz Ahsan was born in Murree, Rawalpindi District of British-controlled Punjab Province and originated from District Gujrat, Pakistan. He was educated at a private high school and attended the two-year Aitchison College.
He transferred from Aitchison to the Government College University (GCU) in 1963, where he studied law. In 1965, he graduated with a BA degree.
Ahsan went to United Kingdom to Study Law at the University of Cambridge and studied at Downing College where he completed a Law Tripos and obtained a BA and MA in 1967. Upon graduating, Ahsan was called to the Bar at Gray's Inn in 1967. Read More
