Hasan Askari Rizvi

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Hasan Askari Rizvi is a Pakistani political scientist, military analyst and writer. He also served briefly as the caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab in 2018.

Early life and education
He was born in 1951 in Mandi Bahauddin, Punjab, Pakistan, into a Shia family. He studied at Punjab University in Lahore, where he earned a BA with honors in Political Science and English literature in 1968, an MA in Political Science in 1970, and an MPhil in comparative government. He also studied in the United Kingdom and earned an MA in International Relations in 1979 and a PhD in Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania in 1980.

Academic career
Askari Rizvi has spent more than 35 years teaching and supervising research. He was a visiting professor of Pakistan studies at Columbia University (1996–1999) and was the Allama Iqbal Professor at Heidelberg University in Germany (1988–1991). He has been a professor emeritus of political science at Punjab University, Lahore, and has worked as a lecturer at the Virtual University of Pakistan. He is well known as a television commentator on Pakistan’s politics and security issues and has collaborated with international think tanks and universities.

Political career
In 2018, he was named caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab for a short period (June 8 to August 20, 2018). He was nominated after negotiations between political parties could not reach a consensus; the Election Commission of Pakistan made the final decision. He pledged to oversee free and fair elections in the province.

Publications and recognition
Askari Rizvi is a prolific writer, contributing thousands of op-eds and articles to newspapers and magazines. His notable books include Military, State and Society in Pakistan (2000); The Military and Politics in Pakistan: 1947–1997 (2000); Pakistan and the Geostrategic Environment (1993); and Pakistan’s Foreign Policy: An Overview 1947–2004 (2004). He was awarded Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence) by the Government of Pakistan in 2010.

Personal
He lives in Lahore, Pakistan. He is known for his work on comparative politics, nuclear deterrence, civil-military relations, and Pakistan’s domestic and foreign policy. He is also a respected commentator and educator in the field of Pakistan studies.