Farooq Leghari served as the eighth president of Pakistan from 1993 until 1997, becoming the first ethnic Baloch to hold the office. Born in 1940 in Choti Zareen, he moved from a career in the civil service to the forefront of national politics, navigating multiple ministerial roles and significant institutional transitions within the Pakistani state.
Education and Early Career
Leghari attended Aitchison College in Lahore, where he graduated at the top of his class and earned the Rivaz Gold Medal in 1957. He continued his studies at Forman Christian College, completing a Bachelor of Arts in Economics in 1960. Later, he obtained a master's degree from St Catherine's College, Oxford. In 1964, he entered the Central Superior Services and served as a civil servant, including a tenure as commissioner of the Sargodha division, before resigning to enter formal politics in 1973.
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Invited by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto to join the Pakistan People's Party, Leghari served as a senator from 1975 to 1977. During the 1980s, he gained prominence for leading demonstrations against the administration of Zia-ul-Haq, which resulted in multiple periods of imprisonment. He served as the Minister for Water and Power between 1988 and 1990. Following the 1993 general elections, he briefly held the portfolio of Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs before being nominated for the presidency by Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
Presidency and Later Years
Leghari secured the presidency in 1993 with 274 votes. His term was marked by policy friction with Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, culminating in his dismissal of her government in 1996. After clashing with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif over judicial appointments, he resigned in 1997. He subsequently formed the Millat Party, which later merged into the PML(Q) in 2004. He returned to the National Assembly in 2008 and remained active until his death in 2010 at the Combined Military Hospital in Rawalpindi due to heart illness.
Fast facts
- Born: 29 May 1940, Choti Zareen
- Died: 20 October 2010, Rawalpindi
- Presidency: 1993-1997
- Religion: Sunni Islam
- Notable Role: First ethnic Baloch President
- Sporting Activity: Represented Pakistan in shooting at the 1974 Asian Games
Questions readers ask
What was Farooq Leghari's political party history?
He was a long-time member of the Pakistan People's Party, later founded the Millat Party in 2002, and oversaw its merger into the PML(Q) in 2004.
Which major government positions did he hold?
He served as a Senator, Minister for Water and Power, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, and the eighth President of Pakistan.
