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Attaullah Tarar
Attaullah Tarar (Urdu/Punjabi: عطاء اللہ تارڑ) is a Pakistani politician who is the current Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, in office since 11 March 2024. He has been a Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan since February 2024. Early life and educationHe received an LLB (Hons) degree from the University of London.[1] Political careerIn December 2021, a First Information Report (FIR) was filed against Tarar after he, along with a mob of armed individuals, forcibly entered the residence of Syed Mir Wasiq, a candidate of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) during the by-election in Khanewal. Allegations were made that Tarar threatened, intimidated, and harassed women and family members of Wasiq.[2] He held the position of Deputy Secretary-General of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N) and has previously served as an additional secretary.[1] On 24 May 2022, Chief Minister of Punjab Hamza Shahbaz appointed him as the spokesperson of the Government of Punjab, on an honorary and non-remunerative basis.[1] On May 30, 2022, Tarar was appointed as the Home Minister in the shortlived cabinet of Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz.[3] In June 2022, he faced criticism on social media after a video of him went viral, wherein he was observed displaying the middle finger in the Punjab Assembly, while holding a copy of the Constitution. After facing criticism on social media for allegedly showing disrespect towards the Constitution and violating the decorum of the Assembly, Atta posted an "apology".[4] On July 28, 2022, he was appointed as the Special Assistant to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, with the status of a Federal Minister. On December 16, 2022, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appointed Tarar as his special assistant on interior and legal affairs.[5] Following the May 9 riots, he held frequent media interactions, criticizing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan.[6] In 2022, Farah Khan, a friend of Bushra Bibi, issued a final legal notice to Tarar, asking him to stop making defamatory statements about her.[7] He was elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan as a candidate of PML-N from Constituency NA-127 Lahore-XI in 2024 Pakistani general election.[8] He received 98,210 votes and defeated PTI-backed independent candidate Malik Zaheer Abbas who received 82,230 votes and also Bilawal Bhutto Zardari who received 15,005 votes.[9] However, Malik Zaheer Abbas contested Tarar's election victory in court, accusing the Election Commission of Pakistan of manipulating and forging Forms 45 and 47 to declare Tarar the winning candidate.[10] On 11 March, he was inducted into the federal cabinet of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and was appointed as Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting.[11] On May 17, 2024 Tarar was assigned additional portfolio of National Heritage and Culture.[12] In May 2024, during Shehbaz Sharif's visit to Iran, Tarar, acted as his personal photographer upon landing at the airport, which prompted criticism from the public.[13] References
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