Fazal Ilahi Choudhary
Fazal Ilahi Choudhary was born on January 1,1904 at Gujrat. He received his early education from his hometown and went to Aligarh University for higher education. He did his M.A in Political Science in 1925 and took his degree of Law form Punjab University in 1927. After completing his education he went back to Gujrat and started practicing Law. He took part in the election of Gujrat District Board and was elected unopposed.
He joined the Muslim League in 1942. In 1945 he was elected President of Muslim League, Gujrat branch. He took part in the 1946 election on Muslim League’s ticket. He played an important role in propagating the ideas of Muslim League among the people of his area.
After independence he was given the post of Parliamentary Secretary, later he was made Minister for Education and Health. In 1951 he fought for the election of Punjab Legislative Assembly, on the ticket of Muslim League and was elected as a member of the Punjab Assembly. In 1952 he represented Pakistan in the United Nation. In the 1956 elections he was elected as the member of the Assembly and latter as the Speaker of the National Assembly. He remained the Speaker till 1958. In 1962 when Ayub Khan announced the elections, he was selected as the deputy leader of the house of opposition on the basis of his experience and knowledge about parliamentary proceedings. He joined the Convention Muslim League and after the 1956 elections he was elected as the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly.
He was elected as a member of the National Assembly in 1970 on the ticket of Pakistan Peoples Party and was later elected as the Speaker of the National Assembly. After the 1973 Constitution Fazal Ilahi Choudhary was made the President of Pakistan for five years on August 14, 1973. On July 5,1977 the army took over the reigns of power in the country Fazal Ilahi however continued his tenure as President of Pakistan. He resigned on September 16,1978.