Muhammad Safdar Awan
{{Short description|Pakistani politician (born 1964)}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=January 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-suffix =
| name = Muhammad Safdar Awan
| office = Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan
| term_start = 1 June 2013
| term_end = 31 May 2018
| constituency = NA-21 (Mansehra-cum-Tor Ghar)
| term_start1 = June 2008
| term_end1 = March 2013
| constituency1 = NA-52 (Rawalpindi-III)
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1964|1|19|df=y}}
| birth_place = Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| nationality = Pakistani
| other party = Pakistan Muslim League (N)
| spouse = {{marriage|Maryam Nawaz| 25 December, 1992 }}
| native_name = {{nq|محمد صفدراعوان}}
| relatives = Sajjad Awan (brother)
| nickname = Captain Safdar
| image =
| office2 = Gentleman of Punjab
| term2 = 26 February 2024
}}
Muhammad Safdar Awan (Hindko and {{Langx|ur|{{Nastaliq|محمد صفدر اعوان}}}}; born 19 January 1964) is a Pakistani politician and retired Pakistan Army officer who has been a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan from June 2008 to May 2018.
He is married to the PMLN supremo Nawaz Sharif's daughter Maryam Nawaz.
Often referred as Captain Safdar by his loyalists and in the media due to his past military career, because of his critical stance on secularism, his vocal support of Mumtaz Qadri and his repeated statements targeting the Ahmadiyya movement, he's generally considered to be a far-right politician.{{Cite web |last=Sarfraz |first=Mehmal |date=12 October 2017 |title=Shifting towards the Right |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/opinion/shifting-towards-the-right/cid/1454664 |access-date=16 July 2023 |website=The Telegraph}}
Early and personal life
According to PILDAT, Safdar was born on 19 January 1963.{{cite web|title=Detail Information|url=http://www.pildat.org/MNA/rsDetail.asp?detid=21|website=www.pildat.org|publisher=PILDAT|accessdate=24 April 2017|url-status=bot: unknown|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425123718/http://www.pildat.org/MNA/rsDetail.asp?detid=21|archivedate=25 April 2017|df=dmy-all}} According to The News International and Dawn, he was born on 19 January 1964.{{cite news |title=Profile: Capt Safdar, from military man to first 'son-in-law' |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1417913/profile-capt-safdar-from-military-man-to-first-son-in-law |accessdate=7 July 2018 |work=DAWN.COM |date=6 July 2018}}{{cite news|title=If elections are held on time…|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/archive/print/404658|accessdate=4 December 2017|work=www.thenews.com.pk|language=en}}
Safdar belongs to a traditionally Sufi family and his father Muhammad Ishaq, who passed away in 2014, was a writer, being a poet and an essayist specialized in Islamic affairs. His father was also the General Secretary of the UC Garhi Habibullah. Safdar was raised in the house of Naseem Khan khankheil, a Khan of Garhi Habibullah and tribal chief of Swatis. His elder brother Sajjad Awan is also a politician. He also has a younger brother, Tahir Awan.{{Cite web |date=24 December 2021 |title=Warrants for Capt Safdar, brother cancelled in land dispute case |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1665476 |access-date=23 July 2023 |website=Dawn News}}
He joined the Pakistan Army after completing his early education.
Safdar married Maryam Nawaz in 1992 while he was serving as captain in the Pakistan Army{{cite news|title=Material, not evidence, submitted: SC|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/181573-Material-not-evidence-submitted-SC+com%2FcwEr+|accessdate=27 February 2017|work=The News|date=25 January 2017|language=en|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170228082720/https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/181573-Material-not-evidence-submitted-SC+com/cwEr+|archivedate=28 February 2017|df=dmy-all}} and has been the ADC to Nawaz Sharif during the latter's tenure as Prime Minister of Pakistan.{{cite news|title=Meet the 'first sons-in-law'|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/213551-Meet-the-first-son-in-laws|accessdate=6 April 2018|work=www.thenews.com.pk|language=en}}{{cite news|last1=Zahra-Malik|first1=Mehreen|title=In Pakistani Fray, Maryam Sharif Is on the Edge of Power, or Prison|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/27/world/asia/maryam-sharif-pakistan.html|accessdate=28 October 2017|work=The New York Times|date=27 October 2017}} After retiring from the Pakistan Army as captain{{cite news|title=Capt Safdar assails PM Office, bureaucrats|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1297309|accessdate=27 February 2017|work=DAWN.COM|date=19 November 2016|language=en|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170228093400/https://www.dawn.com/news/1297309|archivedate=28 February 2017|df=dmy-all}} he joined the civil services and was posted as Lahore Model Town assistant commissioner.{{cite news|title='Termination notice' to Capt Safdar|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/347878/termination-notice-to-capt-safdar|accessdate=12 January 2017|work=DAWN.COM|date=14 January 2004|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113133129/http://www.dawn.com/news/347878/termination-notice-to-capt-safdar|archivedate=13 January 2017|df=dmy-all}}
Political career
Safdar joined politics after returning to Pakistan in 2007 along with the Sharif family.
He was elected to the National Assembly as a candidate of Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N) from Constituency NA-52 (Rawalpindi-III) in the by-election held in June 2008.{{cite news|title=Capt (R) Safdar likely to be next KP PML-N chief|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/archive/print/436167-capt-|accessdate=12 January 2017|publisher=The News|date=12 June 2013|url-status=bot: unknown|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170112093429/https://www.thenews.com.pk/archive/print/436167-capt-|archivedate=12 January 2017|df=dmy-all}} He received 54,917 votes{{cite news|title=PML-N, PPP make gains|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/309358|accessdate=6 April 2018|work=DAWN.COM|date=28 June 2008}} and defeated a candidate of Pakistan Muslim League (Q).{{cite news|last1=Yasin|first1=Aamir|title=Traditional rivals face to face in NA-52|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1026422|accessdate=6 April 2018|work=DAWN.COM|date=6 May 2013}} The seat was vacated by Nisar Ali Khan.
In 2011, Safdar was made the chief organiser of the PML-N Youth Wing.{{cite news|title=Sharifs' nepotism angers senior PML-N leaders|url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2011/05/26/sharifs%E2%80%99-nepotism-angers-senior-pml-n-leaders/|accessdate=6 April 2018|work=pakistantoday}}
In 2012, he was suspended from PML-N for verbally abusing leaders of PML-N.{{cite news|title=Family matters: Nawaz's son-in-law suspended from PML-N - The Express Tribune|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/414516/family-matters-nawazs-son-in-law-suspended-from-pml-n/|accessdate=12 January 2017|publisher=The Express Tribune|date=29 July 2012|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160827200811/http://tribune.com.pk/story/414516/family-matters-nawazs-son-in-law-suspended-from-pml-n/|archivedate=27 August 2016|df=dmy-all}}
Safdar was re-elected to the National Assembly as a candidate of PML-N from Constituency NA-21 (Mansehra-cum-Tor Ghar) in the 2013 Pakistani general election.{{cite news|title=Trend continues: Family names once again dominate polls - The Express Tribune|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/549985/trend-continues-family-names-once-again-dominate-polls/|accessdate=6 April 2018|work=The Express Tribune|date=16 May 2013}}{{cite news|last1=Correspondent|first1=The Newspaper's|title=PML-N's grip on Hazara intact|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1010993|accessdate=6 April 2018|work=DAWN.COM|date=13 May 2013}} He received 91,013 votes and a candidate of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F).{{cite web|title=2013 election result|url=https://ecp.gov.pk/Documents/General%20Elections%202013%20report/Election%20Report%202013%20Volume-II.pdf|publisher=ECP|accessdate=6 April 2018|archive-date=1 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201140612/https://ecp.gov.pk/Documents/General%20Elections%202013%20report/Election%20Report%202013%20Volume-II.pdf|url-status=dead}}
In May 2016, Safdar was reported to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) by Imran Khan for concealing Maryam Nawaz’ assets. He denied it, however he was still summoned by ECP in June 2016.{{cite news|title=ECP calls PM's son-in-law on June 1|url=https://www.samaa.tv/pakistan/2016/05/ecp-calls-pms-son-in-law-on-june-1/|accessdate=12 January 2017|work=Samaa TV|date=23 May 2016|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113165846/https://www.samaa.tv/pakistan/2016/05/ecp-calls-pms-son-in-law-on-june-1/|archivedate=13 January 2017|df=dmy-all}}{{cite news|title=PM's son-in-law summoned for concealing wife's assets|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1260306|accessdate=12 January 2017|work=DAWN.COM|date=24 May 2016|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113134107/http://www.dawn.com/news/1260306|archivedate=13 January 2017|df=dmy-all}}
In June 2018, he was allocated PML-N ticket to contest the 2018 general election from Constituency NA-14 (Mansehra-cum-Torghar).{{cite news |last1=Report |first1=Bureau |title=PML-N names candidates for 25 NA seats |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1414236 |accessdate=6 July 2018 |work=DAWN.COM |date=15 June 2018}}
In July 2018, he was sentenced to one-year jail term in the Avenfield corruption reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau.{{cite news |title=Guilty: Nawaz given 10 years, Maryam 7 |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1418326/avenfield-reference-verdict-announced |accessdate=6 July 2018 |work=DAWN.COM |date=6 July 2018}} As a result, he was disqualified from contesting election for 10 years.{{cite news |title=AC announces 10 years imprisonment to Nawaz |url=https://nation.com.pk/06-Jul-2018/ac-announces-10-years-imprisonment-to-nawaz?show=p?version=amp |accessdate=6 July 2018 |work=The Nation |date=6 July 2018}} The next day, he arrived in Rawalpindi and surrendered to the authorities.{{cite news |title=Capt Safdar arrives in Rawalpindi to 'surrender to authorities' |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1418759/capt-safdar-arrives-in-rawalpindi-to-surrender-to-authorities |accessdate=8 July 2018 |work=DAWN.COM |date=8 July 2018}} In September 2018, he was released on bail over the Avenfield corruption charges.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1433868|title=Nawaz, Maryam and Safdar released from Adiala jail after IHC suspends Avenfield sentences|date=19 September 2018}}
On 19 October 2020, Safdar was arrested from a Karachi hotel for “violating the sanctity of Quaid's mausoleum” and was released on bail the same day.{{cite news |title=Capt Safdar arrested from Karachi hotel for 'violating sanctity of Quaid's mausoleum'|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1585873/capt-safdar-arrested-from-karachi-hotel-for-violating-sanctity-of-quaids-mausoleum |accessdate=19 October 2020 |work=DAWN.com |date=19 October 2020}}
Political views
= Opposition to secularism =
Safdar has been called "a vocal critic of secular politicians."{{Cite book |last=Lyon |first=Stephen |title=Political Kinship in Pakistan: Descent, Marriage, and Government Stability |publisher=Lexington Books |year=2019 |pages=98}}
= Blasphemy law =
In 2012, he publicly supported Islamic fundamentalist Mumtaz Qadri{{cite news|title=Captain Safdar's hate speech|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/archive/print/344542-captain-safdars-hate-speech|accessdate=16 April 2017|work=www.thenews.com.pk|language=en|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170417070325/https://www.thenews.com.pk/archive/print/344542-captain-safdars-hate-speech|archivedate=17 April 2017|df=dmy-all}}{{cite news|last1=Nasir|first1=Abbas|title=Outrage fatigue|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1327032/outrage-fatigue|accessdate=16 April 2017|work=DAWN.COM|date=15 April 2017|language=en|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170416075550/https://www.dawn.com/news/1327032/outrage-fatigue|archivedate=16 April 2017|df=dmy-all}} who assassinated former Governor of Punjab Salmaan Taseer for speaking against the blasphemy law.{{cite news|last1=Asad|first1=Malik|title=Qadri acquitted of terror charge; murder conviction upheld|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1168547|accessdate=16 April 2017|work=DAWN.COM|date=10 March 2015|language=en|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170417154427/https://www.dawn.com/news/1168547|archivedate=17 April 2017|df=dmy-all}}
= Ahmadiyya community =
He has often voiced his concerns against the Ahmadiyya community in Pakistan and called for a ban on hiring Ahmadis in the armed forces and other important institutions of the country.{{Cite web |last=Dawn.com |date=2017-10-10 |title=PML-N's Capt Safdar lashes out against Ahmadis, faces backlash on social media |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1362922 |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}} He has been criticized for his statements against Ahmaddiya community. {{Cite web |date=2017-10-10 |title=Social media erupts over Capt Safdar's speech against Ahmadis |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1527955/social-media-erupts-capt-safdars-tirade-ahmedis?amp=1 |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=The Express Tribune}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Safdar Awan, Muhammad}}
Category:Pakistani far-right politicians
Category:Pakistan Army officers
Category:Pakistani MNAs 2008–2013
Category:Pakistani MNAs 2013–2018
Category:Pakistani prisoners and detainees
Category:Pakistani expatriates in Saudi Arabia