Ali Haider Zaidi
Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs
In office
11 September 2018 – 10 April 2022
PresidentArif Alvi
Prime MinisterImran Khan
Preceded byMir Hasil Khan Bizenjo
Succeeded byFaisal Subzwari
Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan
In office
13 August 2018 – 17 January 2023
ConstituencyNA-244 (Karachi East-III)
President of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Sindh
In office
25 December 2021 – 27 May 2023
ChairmanImran Khan
Preceded byHaleem Adil Sheikh
Succeeded byHaleem Adil Sheikh
Personal details
BornKarachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Political partyIPP (2023–present)
Other political
affiliations		PTI (1999–2023)

Syed Ali Haider Zaidi (Urdu: علی حیدر زیدی) is a Pakistani politician who served as the Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs from 11 September 2018 to 10 April 2022. He previously served as the President of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's Sindh chapter until he joined Jahangir Khan Tareen's Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) party.[1] He has been previously also remained a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan from August 2018 to January 2023.[2]

Political career

In 1999, Zaidi joined PTI[3]

He ran for the seat of the Provincial Assembly of Sindh as a candidate of PTI from Constituency PS-116 (Karachi-XXVIII) in the 2002 general elections, but was unsuccessful. He received 2,941 votes and lost the seat to Nasrullah Khan, a candidate of the MMA.[4]

He ran for the seat of the National Assembly of Pakistan as a candidate of PTI from Constituency NA-252 (Karachi-XIV) and from Constituency NA-208 (Jacobabad) in the 2013 general elections[5][3] but was unsuccessful. He received 49,622 votes from NA-252 (Karachi-XIV) and lost to Abdul Rashid Godil). He received 7,589 votes from NA-208 (Jacobabad) and lost the seat to Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani.[6]

On 25 December 2014, he was appointed as president of PTI's Karachi chapter.[5][3] In December 2015, he announced that he would resign as president of PTI's Karachi chapter in the aftermath of party's poor performance in local government elections.[7]

He was elected to the National Assembly from the Constituency NA-244 (Karachi East-III) as a candidate of PTI in 2018 general elections.[8]

On 11 September 2018, he was inducted into the federal cabinet of Prime Minister Imran Khan[9] and was appointed as Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs.[10][11]

In 2019, An investigative journalist Rauf Klasra broke a story of Zaidi's corruption. Klasra shared documentary proofs in his tweet[12] regarding the kick bags Zaidi received from his friend named Atif Rais Khan, CEO & Chairman, LMKR.[13] Klasra claimed that Zaidi helped his friend in getting $84million Peshawar Metro contract and also the he was living at the residence provided by Rais.[14]

Ali Zaidi was appointed as PTI's Sindh Chapter president by Imran Khan on 25 December 2021.[15]

On 20 April 2023, A judicial magistrate in Karachi’s Malir District granted bail to Ali Zaidi in a PKR 180 Million fraud case after he reached an “out-of-court settlement” with the complainant.[16]

On 27 May 2023, he left the PTI due to the 2023 Pakistani protests.[17]

Controversy

In July 2017, Saleem Safi accused Zaidi of working against Saudi Arabia and in favor of Iranian lobby groups. Zaidi rejected the allegations and sent a legal notice to Saleem claiming Rs. 300 million (US$1.0 million) in damages.[18]

References

  1. ^ "JKT launches IPP as PTI defectors find new boss". The Nation. 9 June 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  2. ^ APP (24 November 2019). "Ali Zaidi to address 31st session of IMO Assembly as a guest Speaker". Brecorder. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  3. ^ a b c "Party politics: PTI's new local leader upsets old members | The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 1 January 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  4. ^ "2002 election result - Sindh" (PDF). ECP. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 April 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  5. ^ a b "Cracks emerge in PTI Karachi ‹ The Friday Times". The Friday Times. 2 January 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  6. ^ "2013 election result" (PDF). ECP. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 February 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  7. ^ "PTI's Ali Zaidi tenders resignation from party position | The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 7 December 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  8. ^ "Ali Haider Zaidi of PTI wins NA-244 election". Associated Press Of Pakistan. 26 July 2018. Archived from the original on 22 October 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  9. ^ "PM Imran's cabinet expanded by six | The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 11 September 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  10. ^ Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (13 September 2018). "State ministers for revenue, frontier regions notified". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  11. ^ "Govt announces portfolios of new ministers". www.pakistantoday.com.pk. 13 September 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  12. ^ @KlasraRauf (14 September 2019). "Sir you want me to share FIA FIR against AliZaidi friend Atif Raees in a scam but still he got $84m Peshawar Metro contract or you want me share IHCJustice Moshin Kiyani decision on scam and only then you will believe its true? Same guy whom Zaidi took to China with PM Khan" (Tweet) – via Twitter. [better source needed]
  13. ^ "LMKR partners with Mastercard to build Pakistan's first open-loop transit solution - LMKR". 25 August 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  14. ^ Destiny, Pak (16 September 2019). "Major scandal of PTI government involving a federal minister unearthed". PakDestiny. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  15. ^ "Ali Zaidi appointed as PTI Sindh President". 25 December 2021.
  16. ^ "Ali Zaidi granted bail in fraud case after 'out of court settlement'". www.geo.tv. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  17. ^ "PTI's Ali Zaidi quits politics, resign from party positions". DAWN.COM. 27 May 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  18. ^ "PTI's Ali Zaidi sends legal notice to journalist Saleem Safi claiming Rs 300 million in damages over allegations of working for Iranian lobby". Daily Pakistan Global. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
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