Javed Hashmi

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Javed Hashmi (born January 1, 1948, in Multan) is a well-known Pakistani politician and conservative thinker. He spent many years with the Pakistan Muslim League (N), and for a period he led the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) before returning to PML-N in 2018. He is also a writer who has talked about geopolitics and Pakistan’s security.

Early life and education
Hashmi came from a family involved in farming. He studied at Punjab University in Lahore, earning a BSc, MSc, and an MPhil in Political Science. He got involved in student politics with Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba, the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami.

Political career and government roles
Hashmi held several government duties over the years. He was the youngest minister in 1978-79 under General Zia-ul-Haq, serving as Minister of State for Youth and Student Affairs. He returned to national politics in the late 1980s and won elections from Multan. In Nawaz Sharif’s governments in the 1990s, he served as Minister of State for Youth Affairs and later as a cabinet minister responsible for Environment and Health. He also led the Pakistan Muslim League (N) as party president from 2001 to 2005.

Challenges and imprisonment
After General Musharraf’s 1999 coup, Hashmi became a vocal critic of military rule and supported civilian control of government. In 2003-2004 he faced legal trouble and was jailed on charges that many viewed as politically motivated. He was released on bail in 2007 after Supreme Court intervention, and he was briefly affected again by emergency measures that year.

PTI period and return to PML-N
In 2011 Hashmi left the PML-N and joined PTI, becoming its president from 2012 to 2014. He criticized some of the party’s tactics and accused elements within the establishment of destabilizing elected government. After tensions with PTI, he left the party in 2014. In 2018 he rejoined the PML-N and renewed his political work with Nawaz Sharif’s leadership.

Writings and views
Hashmi is known for his geopolitical analysis and for stressing civilian control over the military. He wrote Yes! I’m a Rebel! and other works where he argued that Pakistan must protect its democracy and sovereignty from foreign interference and military influence. He also predicted and commented on regional security developments.

Personal life and health
Hashmi has two daughters, Bushra and Maimoona; Mamoona Hashmi is active in politics. In 2010 he suffered a brain hemorrhage and a stroke but recovered after treatment.

Javed Hashmi remains a prominent voice in Pakistan’s political discourse, known for his long career, his insistence on civilian rule, and his willingness to challenge powerful institutions when he believed they overstepped.