Shahid Khaqan Abbasi

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi
Born	(1958-12-27) December 27, 1958 Dewal, Murree District, Punjab, Pakistan
Occupation(s)	Politician, entrepreneur
Years active	1988–2023
Known for	18th Prime Minister of Pakistan, Chairman of Awaam Pakistan, senior vice president of PML-N, Secretary-General of PDM

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi (born 27 December 1958) is a prominent Pakistani politician and entrepreneur who held the office of the 18th Prime Minister of Pakistan from August 2017 until May 2018. He currently serves as chairman of Awaam Pakistan (AP). Abbasi has also been the senior vice president of the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) and acted as secretary-general of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), a coalition opposing the PTI. He was a Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan from October 2018 through August 2023, having previously represented the assembly for eight non-consecutive terms beginning in 1988.

Abbasi's entry into politics followed the passing of his father in 1988, after which he was elected six times from NA-50 (Rawalpindi). After PML-N's success in the 1997 elections, he was appointed Chairman of Pakistan International Airlines, a position he held until the military coup in 1999. Following the 2008 elections, Abbasi briefly served as the Minister for Commerce under Prime Minister Gillani. After the 2013 elections, he was named Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources in Nawaz Sharif’s third cabinet, remaining until Sharif’s disqualification in July 2017. Subsequently, Abbasi was elected by the National Assembly as Pakistan’s 21st Prime Minister in August 2017.

Early life and education

Born on 27 December 1958 in Dewal village within Murree District, Punjab, Abbasi attended Lawrence College in Murree. In 1978, he enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. He further pursued a master's degree in Electrical Engineering at George Washington University, completing it in 1985.

Following his studies, Abbasi worked professionally as an electrical engineer in the United States throughout the 1980s before moving to Saudi Arabia. There, he engaged in projects related to energy development within the oil and gas sector.

1988–97

Abbasi’s political journey commenced after his father Khaqan Abbasi passed away in 1988. In May that year, President Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq dissolved the National Assembly, leading to elections held on 16 November 1988. Running as an independent candidate for the National Assembly seat from Constituency NA-36 (Rawalpindi-I), previously occupied by his father, Abbasi secured victory with 47,295 votes. He defeated candidates representing both the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). After his election, he joined IJI—a coalition formed to oppose PPP. His term concluded when the assembly was dissolved in August 1990 following Benazir Bhutto’s government dismissal.

In elections conducted on 24 October 1990, Abbasi was re-elected from NA-36 as an IJI candidate with a total of 80,305 votes, defeating PPP contender Raja Muhammad Anwar. Following IJI’s electoral win, he was appointed Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Defence until April 1993 when Nawaz Sharif’s government was dismissed and the assembly dissolved.

Abbasi retained his seat in the National Assembly during elections on 6 October 1993 as a Pakistan Muslim League (N) candidate from NA-36, obtaining 76,596 votes against PPP’s retired Colonel Habib Khan. During this tenure, he chaired the National Assembly Standing Committee on Defence until dissolution occurred again in 1996 after Benazir Bhutto’s government was removed.

In the general elections held on 3 February 1997, Abbasi successfully defended his NA-36 seat for PML-N by defeating Pakistan Muslim League (J) candidate Babar Awan and independent Javed Iqbal Satti with a tally of 65,194 votes. That election marked PML-N’s first clear majority win. Subsequently, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif appointed him chairman of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). Throughout his two-year leadership at PIA, Abbasi introduced long-term reforms that eliminated PIA’s debt burden. His tenure ended following General Pervez Musharraf’s military coup in 1999 which ousted Sharif’s administration and dissolved parliament.

Abbasi was implicated alongside Nawaz Sharif in a controversial case involving alleged hijacking related to preventing Musharraf’s PIA plane from landing at Karachi airport on 12 October 1999 and conspiracy accusations to assassinate Musharraf. He refused to testify against Sharif or shift loyalty from him to the military regime. Consequently, Abbasi spent two years imprisoned before being acquitted in 2001; by then Sharif had gone into exile in Saudi Arabia. In a later interview conducted in 2008, Abbasi claimed that Musharraf himself piloted the aircraft during that incident. Additionally, Abbasi faced allegations concerning corruption involving PKR11 million linked to PIA computer procurement but was cleared of charges in 2008.

Fifth and sixth terms: 2002–2013

The general elections conducted on 10 October 2002 during Musharraf's regime saw Abbasi representing PML-N for Constituency NA-50 (Rawalpindi). He was defeated by PPP's Ghulam Murtaza Satti, who secured 74,259 votes (43.31%) compared to Abbasi’s 63,797 votes (37.21%). Abbasi attributed the party’s poor performance—winning just 19 out of 342 National Assembly seats—to voter dissatisfaction following Sharif’s exile. Reports indicate that Abbasi participated in the election somewhat unwillingly, which may have contributed to his defeat. Subsequently, he concentrated on developing Airblue Limited, established in 2003, where he served as the inaugural chairman until 2007 before assuming the role of chief operating officer.

After Sharif’s return from exile in 2007, Abbasi resumed his political career and successfully reclaimed his NA-50 seat in the 18 February 2008 by obtaining 99,987 votes, overcoming PPP’s Satti. The election resulted in a hung parliament with PPP holding the largest number of seats and PML-N coming second. Following the coalition formation between PPP and PML-N under Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani, Abbasi was appointed Minister for Commerce in March 2008. However, he resigned in May 2008 when PML-N withdrew from the coalition to spearhead efforts aimed at impeaching Pervez Musharraf and reinstating the judiciary after the collapse of the Bhurban Accord. Although some reports suggested he managed the Defence Production portfolio concurrently with Commerce Ministry duties, these claims were later refuted.

Tenure as Minister for Petroleum

In the aftermath of the 2013 general elections, Abbasi secured his National Assembly seat from NA-50 (Rawalpindi) for a sixth consecutive term by defeating PPP’s Ghulam Murtaza Satti with 134,439 votes. Despite facing criticism concerning development funds allocated to his constituency, PML-N’s overall electoral success led to Abbasi’s appointment as Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources. His primary responsibility was addressing Pakistan’s ongoing electricity shortages.

Abbasi championed a transition away from costly oil and coal-based power plants towards more economical liquefied natural gas (LNG) for electricity production. He projected that converting diesel and furnace oil plants to LNG could save the government up to US$1.6 billion annually. In February 2016, he finalized a landmark agreement worth US$16 billion over 15 years with QatarEnergy LNG to import 3.75 million metric tons per year. This contract aimed to generate approximately 2,000 MW of power and meet 20% of Pakistan’s gas demand amid existing supply deficits.

This LNG deal represented Pakistan’s largest commercial transaction but attracted criticism from opposition parties regarding its pricing and transparency. Abbasi defended the contract, emphasizing that it resulted from extensive negotiations over 14 months securing the lowest feasible price. In July 2015, allegations emerged accusing him of awarding illegal LNG contracts valued at PKR 220 billion without competitive bidding; however, a National Accountability Bureau inquiry cleared Abbasi in December 2016, affirming that procurement processes were transparent. The Express Tribune recognized this initiative as one of the most cost-effective regasification projects globally.

Abbasi’s ministerial role concluded on 28 July 2017 when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s cabinet was dissolved following Sharif’s disqualification by the Supreme Court due to the Panama Papers case. Throughout his tenure overseeing petroleum affairs, Abbasi received widespread praise for advocating LNG as a key solution to Pakistan’s gas shortages and energy challenges. BBC Urdu highlighted that during his time in this prominent cabinet position, Abbasi remained free from significant political or financial scandals.

Assuming office

Following Nawaz Sharif's resignation on 29 July 2017, he proposed his brother Shehbaz Sharif as his replacement. Since Shehbaz was not a member of the National Assembly at that time, he was ineligible to be immediately sworn in. As a result, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was appointed as interim prime minister for a 45-day period, providing Shehbaz with the opportunity to contest the Lahore seat vacated by Nawaz, secure election to the National Assembly, and thereby qualify for the premiership. BBC News highlighted Abbasi's selection due to his relatively uncontroversial status within PML-N and his connections with the military. On 1 August 2017, the National Assembly elected Abbasi as Prime Minister, where he defeated PPP candidate Naveed Qamar by a vote count of 221 to 47. His election received backing from Jamiat Ulema-e Islam (F) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement. Despite his interim role, Abbasi committed to performing his duties effectively. He took the oath of office at the Presidency Palace on the same day.

Upon taking office, Nawaz Sharif decided that Shehbaz would continue as Chief Minister of Punjab, while Abbasi would remain prime minister until the general elections scheduled for June 2018. The PML-N leadership was concerned that Shahbaz’s departure from Punjab might diminish their influence in Pakistan’s most populous province, which holds 183 out of 342 National Assembly seats, a critical factor in forming the federal government.

Cabinet formation

After assuming the premiership, Abbasi collaborated with Sharif to establish a cabinet comprising 43 members. This included 27 federal ministers and 16 ministers of state. Apart from Nisar Ali Khan, most ministers from Nawaz Sharif’s previous cabinet were retained, with many keeping their existing portfolios. Nisar Ali Khan declined to join due to disagreements with PML-N leadership. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf criticized the cabinet’s size, whereas The Nation praised it. Reuters observed that the cabinet seemed designed to strengthen political support ahead of the 2018 elections.

The cabinet was further expanded on 10 August when two additional federal ministers and two ministers of state took oath, increasing its size to 47 members. Subsequently, six advisers were appointed on 13 August, followed by five special assistants on 14 August, bringing total membership to 58. Abbasi explained the cabinet’s size by citing his limited prior experience in government. Two more advisers joined on 23 August.

Abbasi appointed Khawaja Muhammad Asif as the full-time Minister for Foreign Affairs, marking the first such appointment since PML-N assumed power in 2013. This decision received widespread approval, contrasting with Nawaz Sharif’s previous dual role as Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, which had attracted criticism. Additionally, Abbasi included Hindu parliamentarian Darshan Punshi in the cabinet—the first such appointment in over twenty years.

In December 2017, Abbasi named Faisalabad MNA Rana Afzal Khan as State Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs, filling the vacancy left by Ishaq Dar.

Policies and initiatives

During his inaugural address as prime minister, Abbasi highlighted priorities such as national security, tax system reform, agricultural development, education enhancement, healthcare improvement, infrastructure advancement, and tackling the nation’s electricity shortage. He committed to upholding the policies of Nawaz Sharif, whom he referred to as the "people's prime minister." Abbasi underscored the necessity of expanding the tax base, warning that affluent individuals evading taxes would be held responsible. Additionally, he proposed a nationwide prohibition on automatic firearms, subject to cabinet approval.

Energy policy

To improve administrative efficiency and integrate new cabinet members, Abbasi introduced seven additional ministries, notably establishing the long-anticipated Ministry of Energy (Pakistan), a significant element of PML-N’s 2013 platform. He personally retained the Energy Minister role by consolidating the power division from the Ministry of Water and Power with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources. This restructuring aimed to resolve financial difficulties within the energy sector.

Abbasi maintained a strong commitment to energy issues, advocating for liquefied natural gas (LNG) as an economical alternative. He directed efforts to convert furnace oil-fueled plants to natural gas and promoted reducing dependence on thermal power by boosting domestic coal production and utilizing regasified LNG to achieve a diversified energy portfolio. Exploiting Thar coalfield reserves was prioritized, alongside his pledge to eliminate power outages by November 2017. Under his leadership, Pakistan’s LNG adoption saw considerable progress.

As prime minister, Abbasi inaugurated two LNG regasification terminals at Port Qasim, enhancing LNG supply capacity to 1,200 million cubic feet daily. Credited for these initiatives from his tenure as Petroleum and Natural Resources Minister, he reiterated his dedication to resolving Pakistan’s energy challenges through LNG expansion.

In December 2017, Abbasi mandated converting four independent fuel-powered plants to LNG to reduce electricity generation expenses and banned furnace oil imports to maximize LNG plant utilization. He also ordered upgrades to transmission and distribution infrastructure and sought lasting solutions for Pakistan’s persistent circular debt problem in the power sector.

Domestic policy

Upon assuming office, Abbasi took charge of critical cabinet committees related to economic affairs, including those under the Finance Minister’s portfolio, thereby consolidating authority and curtailing Finance Minister Ishaq Dar's influence. On 26 August, he ratified the 2017 Census results, which recorded Pakistan’s population at 207.77 million (excluding Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Kashmir). Shortly thereafter, he restructured the Council of Common Interests by increasing Punjab’s seats from two to four, resulting in Punjab dominance.

To expedite China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) initiatives, Abbasi initially retained control over the Ministry of Planning and Development but later transferred it to Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal following concerns raised by China. Early in his tenure, Abbasi maintained continuity with Nawaz Sharif’s agenda, avoiding major policy shifts ahead of the 2018 general elections.

In August 2017, Abbasi committed substantial infrastructure funding—₨25 billion for Karachi and ₨5 billion for Hyderabad. The following month, his cabinet approved reforms extending Supreme Court and Islamabad High Court jurisdiction over the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), marking a historic step toward merging FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and abolishing the Frontier Crimes Regulation.

He authorized an increase in civilian director generals within Inter-Services Intelligence in September. After Finance Minister Ishaq Dar took medical leave amid legal challenges late in 2017, Abbasi assumed interim control of the Finance Ministry and maintained this role through the 2018 election period despite obstacles. He appointed Rana Afzal Khan as Minister of State for Finance and elevated Miftah Ismail to Adviser on Finance with federal minister status. In January 2018, Haroon Akhtar Khan was named Federal Minister for Revenue to advance tax reform efforts.

In November 2017, following Abbasi’s directive, licenses for automatic firearms were suspended nationwide as part of a campaign against assault weapons. However, his management of Tehreek-e-Labaik protests faced criticism from Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani for circumventing parliamentary consultation; this controversy led to Law Minister Zahid Hamid’s resignation. Abbasi assigned Special Assistant Zafarullah Khan to supervise the Law Ministry until Chaudhry Mehmood Bashir was appointed Federal Minister for Law in January 2018.

The Express Tribune commended Abbasi’s initial five months for effective economic governance. Nonetheless, opposition leader Imran Khan frequently branded him a "puppet prime minister" serving Nawaz Sharif’s interests.

In January 2018, amid political turmoil within Balochistan's Provincial Assembly, Abbasi advised Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Khan Zehri to resign to prevent party fragmentation; Zehri subsequently stepped down.

Abbasi confirmed intentions in January 2018 to take control of charities Lashkar-e-Taiba and Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation operated by Hafiz Muhammad Saeed. In March, he made an unprecedented appeal to Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar aimed at reducing tensions.

In April 2018, Abbasi unveiled a tax reform package that included lowered income tax rates alongside an amnesty program for undeclared assets.

Foreign policy

After President Donald Trump unveiled a new approach to Afghanistan on 21 August 2017, accusing Pakistan of backing state-sponsored terrorism, Abbasi embarked on his inaugural foreign visit as prime minister to Saudi Arabia on 23 August 2017. There, he engaged with Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman to review the U.S. strategy and sought to reinforce Pakistan–Saudi Arabia ties amid worsening Pakistan–U.S. relations. On the same day, Abbasi led a meeting of the National Security Council, dismissing Trump's claims and branding the U.S. policy as an effort to unfairly blame Pakistan. Subsequently, on 30 August, the Trump administration froze US$255 million in military aid to Pakistan pending enhanced action against terrorist organizations operating within its territory.

In September 2017, Abbasi participated in the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly in the United States, where he met with Vice President Mike Pence. This encounter was the highest-level contact since Trump's Afghanistan policy announcement, with both sides agreeing to promote bilateral cooperation. During the assembly, Abbasi also held discussions with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.

On 18 October, Pence expressed gratitude towards Pakistan for securing the safe release of Canadian-American hostages Joshua Boyle and Caitlan Coleman. Later, on 24 October, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson visited Pakistan aiming to mend frayed relations, emphasizing Pakistan’s need to intensify counterterrorism efforts and acknowledging its crucial regional role.

Abbasi attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Russia on 1 December, engaging with prominent leaders such as Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, and Kyrgyz Prime Minister Sapar Isakov.

Following Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, Abbasi participated in an emergency session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation held in Turkey on 12 December, condemning the U.S. decision and calling for its reversal. On 29 December, the United States again withheld US$255 million in security assistance to Pakistan.

Tensions escalated further on 1 January 2018 when Trump accused Pakistan of dishonesty regarding its role in the War on Terror and criticized its management of U.S. aid. The following day, Abbasi convened an NSC meeting expressing regret over Trump’s statements and asserting that Pakistan should not be held accountable for U.S. setbacks in Afghanistan. On 5 January, the U.S. suspended approximately US$900 million in security aid to Pakistan from a total estimated amount of around US$2 billion. Abbasi minimized the impact of U.S. assistance by noting that annual aid had fallen below US$10 million in recent years.

On 23 January, Abbasi attended the World Economic Forum in Davos, accompanied by senior officials including Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif and Health Minister Saira Afzal Tarar.

Departure from Office

The PML-N administration, led by Abbasi, concluded its five-year tenure on 31 May 2018, marking it as only the second civilian government in Pakistan's history to complete a full term, following the Pakistan Peoples Party.<ref> On 1 June 2018, Justice Nasirul Mulk assumed the role of caretaker prime minister until the general elections conducted on 25 July 2018.<ref> Throughout his premiership, Abbasi resided in his personal residence in Islamabad rather than the official Prime Minister House.<ref> Notably, in 2018, he was recognized as Pakistan's highest individual taxpayer during his time in office.<ref>

After Premiership

On 24 June 2018, Abbasi secured the PML-N nomination to run from Constituency NA-57.<ref> Nevertheless, just three days later, an election tribunal disqualified him permanently under Article 62(1)(f) due to allegations of document tampering.<ref> Abbasi challenged this ruling at the Lahore High Court (LHC), which temporarily suspended the tribunal's decision on 29 June and permitted him to participate in the elections.<ref> However, on 14 September 2018, an appellate tribunal reaffirmed his lifetime disqualification citing a lack of honesty and sagacity.<ref>

Abbasi contested the NA-57 seat in the 2018 general elections but was defeated by Sadaqat Ali Abbasi, garnering 124,703 votes.<ref> He claimed electoral fraud and submitted a petition for vote recounting, which was subsequently dismissed.<ref>

Later, he won a by-election for NA-124 (Lahore-II) held on 14 October 2018 and officially took oath as a member of the National Assembly on 1 November.<ref>

In February 2020, Abbasi obtained bail in connection with the Liquified Natural Gas corruption case.<ref> Prior to that, on 18 July 2019, he was detained by NAB while en route to a press briefing accompanied by fellow PML-N leaders Ahsan Iqbal and Marriyum Aurangzeb.<ref> A sedition case was filed against Abbasi along with other PML-N figures in October 2020.<ref><ref><ref>

On 16 December 2023, Abbasi publicly declared his exit from PML-N.<ref> Subsequently, on 2 June 2024, he announced intentions to establish a new political entity named Awaam Pakistan before the month’s end.<ref>

Family

Hailing from a prosperous political lineage based in Dewal village, Abbasi is part of the Dhund Abbasi tribe that predominantly inhabits northern Punjab’s Potohar Plateau. He is married and father to three sons. His father, Khaqan Abbasi, served as an air commodore in the Pakistan Air Force before entering politics as a Member of the National Assembly and Federal Minister for Production under Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq. He tragically died during the Ojhri Camp military disaster in 1988, which resulted in over one hundred fatalities. Abbasi’s brother Zahid was severely wounded in that incident and remained in a coma until passing away in 2005. His sister, Sadia Abbasi, has held office as a member of the Senate of Pakistan. Additionally, his father-in-law General Muhammad Riaz Abbasi was director-general of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) between 1977 and 1979.

Aviation and Skydiving

Abbasi is passionate about aviation and is an amateur parachutist. He holds the distinction of being the first Pakistani prime minister to actively participate in a Pakistan Air Force operation, piloting both an F-16 Fighting Falcon jet and a TAI/AgustaWestland T129 attack helicopter. With over four decades of flying experience, he also became the inaugural prime minister to board a submarine at sea, successfully completing diving and surfacing drills that earned him Pakistan Navy insignia denoting qualified submariners. Known for his reserved nature, he tends to avoid extensive media exposure.

Health

On 8 June 2020, during the COVID-19 outbreak in Pakistan, Abbasi was confirmed to have contracted the virus.

Wealth

Abbasi is recognized as both an entrepreneur and an authority in aviation. He launched Airblue in 2003; however, by 2016 he refuted claims of holding any stake in the airline, mentioning that he had not been to its offices for several years.

Ranked among Pakistan's wealthiest legislators, his estimated net worth ranges from 1.3 billion to 2.3 billion. His portfolio includes Airblue shares, residential property in Islamabad, ownership of a hotel enterprise, and real estate in Murree.

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