Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi - Early Political Career

Early Political Career

In 1956, Chaudry Zahur Elahi decided to enter politics, however, Chaudhry Manzur Elahi remained committed to the business. Chaudhry Zahur Elahi was elected Chairman of the Gujrat District Board in 1958, and thereafter devoted his efforts solely for the welfare and uplift of the people of his area. The same year, Chaudhry Zahur Elahi was also elected Director of the National Bank of Pakistan. He was elected continuously as Director for the next twelve years.

In 1958, General Ayub Khan came to power through martial law. He enforced the Elected Bodies Disqualification Order (EBDO) for the disqualification of politicians for the next five years. The politicians were given two options: either to retire voluntarily or to face the consequences of the Government’s action. Chaudhry Zahur Elahi was the only politician, in the entire West Pakistan province, who challenged the EBDO. Despite being cleared by the EBDO Tribunal for all charges, Chaudry Zahur Elahi was victimized by the Martial Law regime and was sentenced to six months imprisonment. He was elected Member of National Assembly in 1962 and consequently became Secretary General of the Pakistan Muslim League’s Parliamentary Party of United Pakistan. Around this time the family purchased Pakistan Times.

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