Gohar Ayub Khan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gohar Ayub Khan
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| گوہر ایوب خان | |
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Gohar Ayub Khan in 2004
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| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 25 February 1997 – 7 August 1998 |
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| Prime Minister | Nawaz Sharif |
| Preceded by | Sahabzada Yaqub Khan (Acting) |
| Succeeded by | Sartaj Aziz |
| 14th Speaker of the National Assembly | |
| In office 4 November 1990 – 17 October 1993 |
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| Deputy | Nawaz Khokhar |
| Preceded by | Malik Meraj Khalid |
| Succeeded by | Yousaf Raza Gillani |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 8 January 1937 Rehana, Abbottabad District, Hazara Division, North-West Frontier Province, British India (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan) |
| Died | 17 November 2023 (aged 86) Kulsum International Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan (Laid to rest at Rehana, Haripur District, KP, Pakistan on 18 November 2023) |
| Nationality | Pakistani |
| Political party | Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (1990–1999 and 2012–2023) |
| Other political affiliations |
Pakistan Peoples Muslim League (2009–2012) Pakistan Muslim League (Q) (1999–2009) Islamic Democratic Alliance (1988–1990) Pakistan Muslim League (F) (1985–1988) Tehrik-e-Istiqlal (1977–1985) Convention Muslim League (before 1977) |
| Relations | Mir Dad Khan (grandfather) Sardar Bahadur Khan (uncle) Yousuf Ayub Khan (nephew) Arshad Ayub Khan (nephew) Akbar Ayub Khan (nephew) |
| Children | Omar Ayub Khan |
| Parent |
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| Alma mater | Royal Military Academy Sandhurst |
| Nickname | Kaptaan |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Pakistan |
| Branch/service |  Pakistan Army |
| Years of service | 1957–1962 1971–1972 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | 1/14 Punjab |
| Battles/wars | Indo-Pakistan War of 1971 |
Gohar Ayub Khan (Urdu: گوہر ایوب خان; 8 January 1937 – 17 November 2023) was an important Pakistani politician and army officer. He was also a successful businessman. He held important positions in the government, including being a minister under Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Gohar Ayub Khan was born in the village of Rehana in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. He belonged to the Tareen tribe of Pashtuns. He could speak Hindko and Pashto languages fluently. He was the son of Ayub Khan, who was a field marshal and later became the President of Pakistan. Gohar Ayub Khan helped his father stay in power after the 1965 presidential election.
He studied at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom. After finishing his studies, he joined the Pakistan Army in 1959. During his time in the army, he worked as his father's aide-de-camp, which meant he traveled with his father on many trips to other countries. He left the army in 1962 as a captain. After leaving the army, he started his own business and entered politics in 1974.
Gohar Ayub Khan first ran in the 1977 general election. He later joined the Islamic Democratic Alliance in 1988. After the 1990 general election, he became the Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan. This is a very important role, like being the leader of the country's parliament. He then became the Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1997. Later, he worked as the Minister for Water and Power. His time in government ended in 1999, and he later retired from national politics.
Contents
Early Life and Military Service
Gohar Ayub was born on 8 January 1937 in the village of Rehana, in Haripur District. This area was part of the British Raj at the time. He came from a military family. His father, Ayub Khan, was a senior officer in the British Army. Later, his father became the President of Pakistan in 1958.
Gohar Ayub went to Army Burn Hall College and then to Saint Mary's Academy in Rawalpindi. In 1957, he joined the Pakistan Army. He trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom. When he returned to Pakistan, he started serving in the army. In 1958, he became his father's aide-de-camp. This meant he traveled with his father on many official trips around the world. He reached the rank of Captain before leaving the army in 1962.
After leaving the army, Gohar Ayub and his father-in-law started a private business called Universal Insurance Co. Ltd. During the 1971 War, Gohar Ayub briefly returned to the army. He took part in fighting in the Punjab border areas.
Political Journey
Supporting His Father's Election
Gohar Ayub played a role in his father's election campaign in Karachi during the 1965 Presidential election. He supported his father, Ayub Khan, in this election.
Serving as Speaker of the National Assembly
Gohar Ayub Khan was a long-time member of the Pakistan Muslim League. He was elected to the National Assembly five times from his home area. In 1977, he won a seat in the National Assembly from Peshawar. He was part of the Independence Movement party at that time.
After winning the 1990 general election, Gohar Ayub Khan became the 14th Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan. He held this important position from 4 November 1990 until 1993. After him, Yousaf Raza Gillani became the Speaker. Gohar Ayub also served as a senior vice-president of the Pakistan Muslim League. After being re-elected in 1993, he became the deputy leader of the opposition in the National Assembly.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Water and Power
In 1997, Gohar Ayub Khan was appointed as the Minister of Foreign Affairs by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. This role meant he was in charge of Pakistan's relationships with other countries. He supported Prime Minister Sharif's decision to conduct nuclear tests in May 1998, after India had done its own tests.
On 7 August 1998, he was given a new role. He became the Minister for Water and Power. He worked in this position until 12 October 1999. His term ended when General Pervez Musharraf took over the government in a military coup. After this, Gohar Ayub Khan retired from national politics.
Later Political Activities
Gohar Ayub's relationship with Nawaz Sharif became difficult, and he left the Pakistan Muslim League in 1999. In 2001, he joined a new group called the Pakistan Muslim League (Q). He became the first secretary general of this new party.
He could not run in the 2002 election himself due to a new rule. However, he supported his family members. His younger son, Omar Ayub Khan, won his seat in Haripur District. His wife, Zeb Gohar Ayub, was elected to the National Assembly for women's reserved seats.
Business Career
Gohar Ayub Khan was also a successful businessman. He helped start an industrial company called Universal Insurance company Limited. This company was founded by his father-in-law. Gohar Ayub Khan became a powerful figure in the business world. He was the Chief Executive of Universal Insurance. He also served on the board of several other companies that belonged to his father-in-law's family business group, the Bibojee Group.
Death
Gohar Ayub Khan passed away at Kulsum International Hospital in Islamabad, Pakistan, on 17 November 2023. He was 86 years old and had been ill for a short time.
Books
- Glimpses Into the Corridors of Power, Karachi: Oxford University Press, 2007, 354 p. This is his autobiography, telling his life story.
- Testing Times as Foreign Minister, Islamabad: Dost Publications, 2009, 352 p. Another autobiography, focusing on his time as Foreign Minister.
- Shikar: In The Days Gone By, Islamabad: Dost Publications, 2009, 148 p. This book is about hunting.
- Aivān-i Iqtidār Ke Mushāhidāt, Lahore: Sang-e-Mil Publications, 2018, 364 p. Another autobiography.
See also
- Omar Ayub Khan
- Iskander Mirza
