Ashraf Choudhary

{{Infobox officeholder

|honorific-prefix =

|name = Ashraf Choudhary

|honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|QSO|size=100%}}

|image = Ashraf Choudhary.jpg

|caption =

|constituency_MP = Labour party list

|parliament = New Zealand

|term_start = 2002

|term_end = 2011

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1949|02|15}}

|birth_place = Sialkot, Punjab, Pakistan

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|nationality = New Zealand

|party = Labour

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|children =

|residence = Auckland

|alma_mater = University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (UAF) Pakistan
Massey University, New Zealand

|occupation =

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|cabinet =

|committees = Primary Production Committee

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|blank1 = Fields

|data1 = Agricultural Engineering

|blank2 = Institutions

|data2 = Massey University

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Ashraf Choudhary {{post-nominals|country=NZL|QSO|size=85%}} (born 15 February 1949; Sialkot, Punjab) is a Pakistani-New Zealand scientist in agricultural engineering and formerly a member of the Parliament in New Zealand. He is a member of the Labour Party, and was New Zealand's first MP from South Asia and Pakistan.{{Cite web|title=Choudhary, Ashraf - New Zealand Parliament|url=https://www.parliament.nz/mi/mps-and-electorates/former-members-of-parliament/choudhary-ashraf/|access-date=2021-09-26|website=www.parliament.nz|language=en}}

Early life

Choudhary was born in the Pakistani half of the Punjab region in village Jajay at the home of Chaudhry Muhammad Boota. He comes from a family of agriculture. He attended high school in the town of Sialkot,{{cite web|url=http://www.pildat.org/eventsdel.asp?detid=65|title=Patience and Persistence required for a stable democracy in Pakistan|date=25 December 2004|publisher=PILDAT|accessdate=7 June 2011|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615031605/http://www.pildat.org/eventsdel.asp?detid=65|archivedate=15 June 2011|url-status=dead}} and then gained a degree in agricultural engineering from University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (UAF) in Faisalabad. He continued his studies abroad, gaining a master's degree in agricultural engineering at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, England and a PhD in agricultural engineering at Massey University, New Zealand.{{Cite thesis |last=Choudhary |first=Mohammed Ashraf |title=Interrelationships between performance of direct drilled seeds, soil micro-environment and drilling equipment |date=1979 |degree=PhD |publisher=Massey Research Online, Massey University |hdl=10179/3612 |url=http://hdl.handle.net/10179/3612}}

Scientific and community work

Choudhary was originally an environmental scientist and taught at Massey University. He has published a large number of scientific papers in his field, and is considered to be an international authority on conservation tillage.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}} His work has a particular focus on agricultural techniques in developing countries. Choudhary has three children.

Before entering Parliament, Choudhary had worked with a number of community organisations, including such groups as the New Zealand Federation of Ethnic Councils and FIANZ – the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (of which he was president in 1984–85).{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}} In his capacity as president of FIANZ he oversaw the first annual halal meat contract with the New Zealand Meat Producers Board in June 1984, with the aid of Mazhar Krasniqi, Hajji Abdul Rahim Rasheed and Dr. Mohammad Hanif Quazi.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}}

Parliamentary politics

{{NZ parlbox|term=47th|start={{NZ election link year|2002}}|end=2005|electorate=List|party=New Zealand Labour Party|list=40}}

{{NZ parlbox|term=48th|start={{NZ election link year|2005}}|end=2008|electorate=List|party=New Zealand Labour Party|list=25}}

{{NZ parlbox

|term = 49th

|start = {{NZ election link year|2008}}

|end = 2011

|electorate = List

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|list = 31

}}

Having been a supporter of the Labour Party for some time, Choudhary was elected to Parliament as a Labour Party list MP in the 2002 election. He was sworn in on the Qur'an, which Winston Peters (leader of the New Zealand First party) criticised as breaking "centuries-old tradition."{{Cite web|title=New Zealand's first Muslim legislator in row over Quran {{!}} WWRN - World-wide Religious News|url=https://wwrn.org/articles/7895/|access-date=2021-09-26|website=wwrn.org}} Choudhary, however, responded that the tradition was broken when Premier Julius Vogel was sworn in on the Torah. Because Parliamentary officials did not have a copy of the Qur'an, they obtained a copy from the FIANZ office, which was then donated to the Parliamentary Library for use in the future.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}}

During his time in Parliament, Choudhary served on the Primary Production, Local Government and Environment, and Education and Science select committees. He also came to public attention in 2003, when he abstained in a vote to legalise prostitution. The Muslim community were upset by his decision to abstain from voting since prostitution is seen as a violation of their faith.{{cite news|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/content/206420/423466/article.html|title=Muslims upset with MP|date=17 July 2003|work=Television New Zealand|accessdate=7 June 2011}}

In 2011, Choudhary was mentioned in Anders Behring Breivik's manifesto 2083: A European Declaration of Independence where Choudhary was used an example of Muslim's failing to assimilate by not condoning the stoning of homosexuals and those who have extramarital affairs.{{Cite web|date=2011-07-30|title=Mass killer sees NZ as haven in Islam conflict|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/5365851/Mass-killer-sees-NZ-as-haven-in-Islam-conflict|access-date=2021-09-21|website=Stuff|language=en}} Choudhary had in 2004 stated that stoning was in line with Qur'an teachings, but had no place in New Zealand.{{Cite web|title=Ashraf Choudhary on the stoning of gays » archived article sourced from GayNZ.com|url=https://www.pridenz.com/gaynz/842.html|access-date=2021-09-26|website=www.pridenz.com}} He responded to the inclusion in the manifesto by saying "He is a terrorist and we should condemn what he has done and that is all I really want to say."

Post-parliament career

On 29 September 2011, Choudhary delivered his valedictory speech in Parliament and would retire from politics after the 2011 general election.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2011-09-29 |title=Valedictory Speeches Sept 29 |url=http://parliamenttoday.co.nz/2011/09/valedictory-speeches-sept-29/ |access-date=2022-04-16 |website=parliamenttoday.co.nz |language=en-US}} Since retiring Choudhary has been active in the Pakistani and Indian community circles of Auckland encouraging youth political involvement and supporting blood donor drives.{{Cite web|date=2013-02-13|title=Indian Newslink - Former MP calls more youngsters to politics|url=http://www.indiannewslink.co.nz/index.php/archives2012/may_15_2012_issue/former-mp-calls-more-youngsters-to-politics.html|access-date=2021-09-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130213172129/http://www.indiannewslink.co.nz/index.php/archives2012/may_15_2012_issue/former-mp-calls-more-youngsters-to-politics.html|archive-date=13 February 2013}}{{Cite web|date=2013-02-22|title=Indian Newslink - Pakistani blood donors do us proud|url=http://www.indiannewslink.co.nz/index.php/archives2012/feb_1_2012_issue/pakistani-blood-donors-do-us-proud.html|access-date=2021-09-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130222203844/http://www.indiannewslink.co.nz/index.php/archives2012/feb_1_2012_issue/pakistani-blood-donors-do-us-proud.html|archive-date=22 February 2013}}

At the 2016 election and 2019 election local body elections Choudhary was elected to the Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board and Counties Manukau District Health Board.{{Cite web|date=2016-10-11|title=Majorities for Labour and Action Team on southern local boards|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/manukau-courier/85169943/majorities-for-labour-and-action-team-on-southern-local-boards|access-date=2021-09-26|website=Stuff|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2019-09-12|title=Voice of ethnic communities gets stronger and louder|url=https://indiannewslink.co.nz/voice-of-ethnic-communities-gets-stronger-and-louder-2/|access-date=2021-09-26|website=indiannewslink.co.nz|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2016-10-11|title=Three new members elected to Counties Manukau DHB|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/manukau-courier/85143467/three-new-members-elected-to-counties-manukau-dhb|access-date=2021-09-26|website=Stuff|language=en}}

Honours

In the 2001 New Year Honours, Choudhary was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for community service.{{cite web|date=30 December 2000|title=New Year honours list 2001|url=https://dpmc.govt.nz/publications/new-year-honours-list-2001|publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet|accessdate=17 August 2019}}

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20040121053847/http://www.theasianoutlook.com/articles/March/40.htm Interview with Ashraf Choudhary]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20040103082525/http://pakistandost.com/choudhry.htm PakistanDost biography]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20090324101106/http://theyworkforyou.co.nz/mps/ashraf_choudhary Ashraf Choudhary] at TheyWorkForYou

Category:1949 births

Category:Alumni of Newcastle University

Category:Agricultural engineers

Category:Companions of the Queen's Service Order

Category:Living people

Category:Massey University alumni

Category:Academic staff of Massey University

Category:University of Agriculture, Faisalabad alumni

Category:New Zealand Labour Party MPs

Category:New Zealand Muslims

Category:Pakistani emigrants to New Zealand

Category:Pakistani scientists