Wasim Sajjad served twice as the acting President of Pakistan, holding the office in 1993 and again between 1997 and 1998. Born in Jalandhar on 30 March 1941, he established a career that integrated the legal profession with a prominent role in the Senate, where he presided as chairman for over a decade.
Academic and Legal Foundation
Sajjad studied at the University of the Punjab in Lahore before moving to Oxfordshire on a 1964 Rhodes Scholarship. At Wadham College, he earned a Bachelor of Civil Law and a graduate degree in Jurisprudence by 1967. Following his studies at City Law School, he was called to the Bar at the Inner Temple in 1968. Upon returning to Pakistan, he taught constitutional law at Punjab Law College for a decade starting in 1967.
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Entering the legislature in 1985 as a member of the Muslim League, Sajjad held several ministerial portfolios. He served as the Federal Minister for Law and Justice from 1986 to 1988 and briefly as the Federal Minister for Interior in 1987. In 1988, he began an eleven-year tenure as Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan. During this period, his duties included serving as acting President of Pakistan during national election cycles.
Later Political Activity and Institutional Roles
Following the 1999 coup by General Pervez Musharraf, Sajjad joined the PML(Q) and returned to the Senate. He functioned as the Leader of the House from 2003 until 2008 and subsequently acted as the Leader of the Opposition from 2010 to 2012. Outside of government, he held the interim presidency of the Pakistan Football Federation in 1989. After leaving elective office, he transitioned into academic administration, serving as the chancellor of the National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences and as Chairman of the Foundation for Advancement of Science and Technology.
Legal Challenges
In 2002, investigations into the misuse of government assets led to accusations against Sajjad. He was charged with the unauthorized use of state-provided vehicles and telecommunications services, with the alleged costs reaching into the millions of rupees. While he was ordered to pay a financial penalty to settle the matter, he did not face incarceration.
Fast facts
- Born: 30 March 1941, Jalandhar
- Citizenship: Pakistan; British Raj
- Religion: Islam
- Education: University of the Punjab; Wadham College; City Law School
- Rhodes Scholar: 1964
- Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan: 1988-1999
- Acting President of Pakistan: 1993, 1997-1998
Questions readers ask
What specific years did Wasim Sajjad serve as acting president?
He served as the acting President of Pakistan in 1993 and again from 1997 to 1998.
Did Sajjad hold any positions in academia after his political retirement?
Yes, he became the chancellor of the National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences and the Chairman of the Foundation for Advancement of Science and Technology.
