Hanif Abbasi

Muhammad Hanif Abbasi
Born	(1966-01-04) January 4, 1966 Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan
Occupation(s)	Politician, Businessman
Years active	1977–present
Known for	Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan (2002–2008, 2008–2013); involvement in narcotics case

Muhammad Hanif Abbasi (; born 4 January 1966) is a Pakistani political figure associated with the Pakistan Muslim League (N). He has held a seat in the National Assembly of Pakistan during two separate periods: from 2002 to 2008 and again from 2008 to 2013.

Early life and education

Abbasi was born on 4 January 1966 into the Dhund Abbasi family in Rawalpindi, Punjab. His father is Muhammad Khalil Abbasi, and he has five brothers along with one sister.

His foundational education took place at Muslim League High School in Lahore, where he developed an enthusiasm for football and cricket. Subsequently, he earned degrees from both Forman Christian College and University of the Punjab.

He is a father to three children, including Hammas Abbasi, who is engaged in business and politics and resides in Dubai. Among his two daughters, Dr Areeba Abbasi formerly served as a medical officer in the emergency department of Benazir Bhutto Hospital. She resigned in 2018, citing political persecution.

Political career

Abbasi’s involvement in politics began in 1977. He initially aligned with Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan before joining the Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N) in 2008. His first successful election to the National Assembly of Pakistan came through NA-56 (Rawalpindi VII) as a candidate representing Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) during the 2002 by-elections, where he defeated the nephew of Sheikh Rashid Ahmad.

In the 2008 general elections, Abbasi was re-elected from NA-56 on a PML-N ticket, overcoming former Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad by securing 73,433 votes. He ran again from the same constituency as a PML-N nominee in 2013 but was defeated by Imran Khan, obtaining 67,169 votes compared to Khan’s 80,425.

For the 2018 general elections, Abbasi was nominated by PML-N from NA-60 (Rawalpindi-IV). However, he was disqualified and sentenced to life imprisonment due to involvement in a narcotics-related case.

In April 2018, Abbasi was arrested concerning the ephedrine quota scandal and received a life sentence. On 11 April 2019, the Lahore High Court stayed his conviction, highlighting that other defendants had been acquitted and significant legal issues remained unresolved.

Disqualification

In June 2012, an F.I.R. was registered against Abbasi for allegedly misappropriating 500 kg of ephedrine allocated to his pharmaceutical firm, Gray Pharmaceutical, in 2010. Though granted bail in November that year, the anti-narcotics agency contested his eligibility ahead of the 2013 elections; nevertheless, he was permitted to participate as the case had not yet concluded.

In July 2018, Justice Sardar Muhammad Akram found Abbasi guilty, sentencing him to life imprisonment along with a fine of Rs. 1 million. He was taken into custody at court and sent to Central Jail Rawalpindi. Following public outcry over a leaked image depicting him casually dressed alongside party officials inside prison, authorities transferred him to Attock Jail.

During incarceration, Abbasi faced critical health challenges including kidney disease and heart complications. In January 2019, he underwent cardiac treatment at Punjab Institute of Cardiology before being shifted to Shaikh Zayed Hospital for further medical care.

On 11 April 2019, his sentence was suspended by the Lahore High Court due to incomplete judicial consideration and because other accused individuals had been acquitted.