Farooq Leghari

Sardar Farooq Ahmad Khan Leghari (b. May 29, 1940) was President of Pakistan from November 14, 1993 until December 2, 1997.

Leghari was born in Dera Ghazi Khan on May 29 of 1940. Leghari studed at Oxford University, and joined the Pakistani Civil Service upon completing his studies. He would join the Pakistan Peoples Party, and was made leader of that party upon the imprisonment of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. However, he would be imprisoned during the military regime of Muhammad Zia ul-Haq, only to be freed upon the death of the general, and return once to politics.

In 1993, he ran for President, and won over Wasim Sajjad. His time as President coincided with that of Benazir Bhutto's as Prime Minister, and two enjoyed good relations. In 1997 though, Bhutto would be replaced by Nawaz Sharif, who was politically opposed to Leghari and the two would spar. Sharif would pass an amendment cutting the power of the PPP, and Leghari would resign at the end of 1997 knowing that he would not be reelected.

Since then, Leghari has set up his own party, and opposed the Sharif regime. His new party has also been involved in elections under the current President, Pervez Musharraf.

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