Usman Dar (Urdu: عثمان ڈار) is a Pakistani politician who was Special Adviser to the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan on Youth Affairs. He was in office from 3 December 2018 till his resignation from the parliament on 10 April 2022. He also held the position of Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme during his term.
Usman Dar | |
|---|---|
 Dar in 2018 | |
| Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Youth Affairs | |
| In office 29 April 2021 – 10 April 2022 | |
| President | Arif Alvi |
| Prime Minister | Imran Khan |
| In office 3 December 2018 – 12 February 2021 | |
| President | Arif Alvi |
| Prime Minister | Imran Khan |
| Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme | |
| In office 10 October 2018 – 12 February 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Leila Khan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 28, 1974[1] Sialkot, Punjab, Pakistan |
| Other political affiliations | PTI (2013–2023) |
| Spouse | Hiba Sajjid |
Personal life
editUsman Dar was born on 28 August 1974 in Sialkot, Pakistan. He belongs to a Punjabi speaking Kashmiri family.[2] He is a married man with two kids.
Education
editDar has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of the Punjab.[3]
In his nomination papers for 2013 general election, Dar claimed to have received the degree of Master of Business Administration from the Schiller International University, London in 1997.[4][5]
In November 2017, Schiller International University was found to be a degree mill and Dar's MBA degree was found to be dubious after the Department for Education of the United Kingdom said that it does not recognise the university.[4][5]
Dar did not declare his MBA degree in his nomination papers for 2018 general election and only mentioned his graduation degree from the University of the Punjab.[5]
Political career
editHe ran for the seat of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab as an independent candidate from PP-122 (Sialkot-II) in the 2008 Punjab provincial election but was unsuccessful.[6] He received only 54 votes and lost the seat to Chaudhry Muhammad Akhlaq.[7]
He ran for the seat of the National Assembly of Pakistan as a candidate of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) from NA-110 (Sialkot-I) in the 2013 Pakistani general election but was unsuccessful.[8] He received 71,573 votes and lost the seat to Khawaja Muhammad Asif.[9]
He ran for the seat of the National Assembly as a candidate of the PTI from NA-73 (Sialkot-II) in the 2018 Pakistani general election but was unsuccessful.[10] He received 115,464 votes and lost the seat to Khawaja Muhammad Asif.[11]
On 10 October 2018, Prime Minister Imran Khan appointed Dar as Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme.[12] On 12 October, a resolution was submitted in the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab against the appointment of Dar due to his dubious degree.[13] The resolution also noted that appointment was "clear violation of merit and unacceptable as he had suffered a massive defeat in the general elections".[14] On 13 October, Pakistan Today also noted that Dar's appointment as chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme violates 2014 order of Lahore High Court.[15]
On 3 December 2018, Prime Minister Imran Khan appointed him as his Special Assistant to PM on Youth Affairs.[16][17] On October 4, 2023, after 4 months of disappearance due to 9 May Protest, Usman Dar appeared in an interview and declared to leave Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Politics.
References
edit- ^ "Usman Dar". Library of Congress.
- ^ "Dynastic role decisive in NA-73 contest". The Nation. 25 July 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
- ^ "PTI's Usman Dar dismisses report on dubious degree". Geo News. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
- ^ a b "PTI's Usman Dar obtained dubious degree from dubious university". The News. 28 November 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
- ^ a b c "Nomination papers: PTI's Usman Dar drops MBA degree". 15 June 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
- ^ "Political rank and file joining PTI in droves". The Nation. 25 December 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
- ^ "2008 election result" (PDF). ECP. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
- ^ "NA-110 from Sialkot goes to Khwaja Muhammad Asif | The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 12 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
- ^ "2013 election result" (PDF). ECP. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
- ^ "Khawaja Asif defeats PTI's Usman Dar in NA-73 Sialkot". Daily Pakistan Global. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
- ^ "NA-73 Result - Election Results 2018 - Sialkot 2 - NA-73 Candidates - NA-73 Constituency Details - thenews.com.pk". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
- ^ "Usman Dar to head PM's Youth Programme". www.pakistantoday.com.pk. 10 October 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
- ^ "عثمان ڈار کی بطور چیئر مین یوتھ پروگرام تعیناتی کیخلاف قرارداد جمع". Dunya Urdu. 12 October 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
- ^ "Dar justifies his appointment as youth plan head". The News. 13 October 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
- ^ "Usman Dar appointed PM's Youth Programme chairperson in violation of LHC orders". www.pakistantoday.com.pk. 13 October 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
- ^ "PM appoints Usman Dar as special adviser on youth affairs". Pakistan Today. 4 December 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
- ^ "PM Imran decides to introduce national policy for youth". Geo News. 4 December 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2018.