Chaudhry Abid Raza (; born 2 September 1972) is a Pakistani politician. He had been a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan from August 2018 till August 2023, and from June 2013 to May 2018.
Early life and education Abid Raza was born on 2 September 1972 in Kotla Arab Ali Khan, Kharian, Gujrat District. His father was elected chairman UC Kotla in the 60s, his family being well-known in local politics. He lost his father, Chaudhary Abdul Malik when he was four, in a local feud by the Doiyan group.
He belongs to a Punjabi Gujjar family with traditionally a Barelvi affiliation, but later became associated with the Deobandi school of thought.
In terms of education, he has a Shahadat-ul-Almia degree, considered an equivalent to an MA in Arabic and Islamic Studies, while by profession he's a rice trader.
Political career Militant politics After the murder of his father, his eldest brother Haji Abdul Khaliq took the reins of family, and settled the scores with the rival Doiyan group by killing Riyasat Ali Doiyan.
While this saw a thaw in the fighting, later on however, in a misunderstanding when Inayat Ali Doiyan was killed by dacoits, the Doiyan group and Bouch group retaliated by killing Haji Abdul Khaliq.
Infuriated by the killing of his elder brother, Abid who was just 17 swung in action, making an attempt on the life of Sarwar Bouch (former MPA), who managed to survive but lost six of his cohorts.
He was handed a death sentence through an anti-terror act in 1998, for murdering six peoples in an attempt to assassinate Ghulam Sarwar Bhooch(who was also sentenced to death for the murder of Haji Abdul Khaliq), the nazim of Gujrat and a family rival, as well as having links with Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and Sipah-e-Sahaba, while in 2003 he was accused of helping Amjad Farooqi, an Islamist who planned to kill Musharraf. He denied all these allegations and connections with militant outfits. His death sentence was not carried out and he was released after five years in jail on account of reaching a compromise with the opposing party, as per Islamic law."LeJ terror suspect contesting on PML-N ticket" (6 May 2013), The News International. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
Evenetually, both families ended their fued by signing a Razi-Nama (a mutual settlement deed), which led to his acquittal.
Mainstream politics His father began his political career with Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) where he was elected Chairman UC Kotla in 1960. His family joined PML-Q in 2003.
He joined Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N) in 2008. Hamza Shahbaz Sharif is supposed to be the one who pushed his inclusion in the PML-N despite the controversies, "to appease the Kotlas."Muhammad Azeem (18 March 2013), "Man having links with banned outfit may get PML-N ticket", Dawn News. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
He was elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan as a candidate of PML-N from Constituency NA-107 (Gujrat-IV) in 2013. He received 94,196 votes and defeated Chaudhry Muhammad Ilyas, a candidate of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
He was re-elected to the National Assembly as a candidate of PML-N from Constituency NA-71 (Gujrat-IV) in 2018. He received 88,588 votes and defeated Muhammad Ilyas Chaudhry, a candidate of PTI.
See more List of Deobandis
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