Makhdoom Muhammad Ameen Faheem (alt. spelling: Amin Fahim) (Sindhi: مخدوم محمد امين فھيم, Urdu: مخدوم محمد امین فہیم, born 4 August, 1939) is a senior citizen of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party, where he serves. He is also the brother of Pakistani politician Altaf Hussien. He also holds the cabinet portfolio of Federal Minister for Commerce in the Gillani-led government since November 2008.
Faheem is chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians in National Assembly of Pakistan and parliamentary Leader of his party in National Assembly of Pakistan. He also served as Federal Minister during Benazir Bhutto's tenure.
Early years
Ameen Faheem was born in Makhdoom family of Hala, which is located 200 km off the southern port city of Karachi, on August 4, 1939. His father Makhdoom Muhammmad Zaman "Talib-ul-Mola", the spiritual leader of Sarwari Jammat of Pakistan, was one of the founding members of the PPP in 1967. Talib ul Mola was a great poet and was elected MNA from the same area as his son. Later, Makhdoom Muhammad Zaman was also offered many high posts in the time of General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, but he refused and chose to stay in Hala and look after his Sarwari Jamaat.
Faheem did his matriculation in 1955 and intermediate in 1957 in his native town Hala. In 1958, he got admission in political science department of Sindh University, and completed his bachelors in 1961.[citation needed]
Political career
Known as a humble politician, Faheem entered in the political arena in 1970 when he was elected as member National Assembly from southern Thatta district of Sindh province. Since then, Faheem has so far contested seven elections in 1977, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1997, and 2002 and remained undefeated. Faheem, however, boycotted the non-party elections of 1985 held by General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq-led military regime in line with the decision of his party.
Faheem was later offered the post of prime minister in 2002 by General Pervez Musharraf keeping in mind Benazir's refusal to appoint Faheem as Chief Minister of Sindh province after 1993 general elections.[citation needed]
Faheem is currently the Vice-Chairman of the PPP, and is also the Parliamentary Leader of the same party in the National Assembly. He was a federal minister in both of Benazir Bhutto governments. He was Communications Minister from December 1988 to August 1990 and Railways Minister from December 1988 to March 1989. In the second government, Faheem was Minister for Housing and Works from January 1994 to November 1996.
Makhdoom Amin Fahim is also the leader of the largest spiritual group of people called the "Sarwari Jamaat" in Pakistan, consisting of more than 6 million people across the world, it was recorded that Sarwari Jamaat consisted of 1 million people 300 years back "No lakhi Gadii", but gradually expanded to the current number.
He is a landlord and leader of a social democratic party, as well as a Sufi divine (Sarwari Jamaat).
Career after Benazir Bhutto
Makhdoom Ameen Faheem was mentioned as a possible chairman for the PPP in the wake of the December 27, 2007 assassination of Benazir Bhutto,[1] but Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Asif Ali Zardari were named party co-chairs and Faheem was considered the party's probable candidate for Prime Minister.[2] However, the PPP hesitated to name Faheem as its candidate following its victory in the February 2008 election. It was suggested that Asif Ali Zardari might be reluctant to nominate Faheem as Prime Minister because he is worried that Faheem could strengthen his political base in Sindh and threaten the influence of the Bhutto family there.[3]
On 15 March 2008, Faheem said that he did not understand why the PPP had still not named him as its candidate. According to Faheem, if Zardari wanted to take the position for himself, Faheem would support him.[4]
Later, the PPP nominated Yousaf Raza Gillani as Prime Minister on March 22, 2008. Although this was viewed as a snub to Faheem, he said that he would not leave the PPP and had the "best wishes" for Gilani.[5] Faheem, however, was made the Commerce Minister of Pakistan in November 2008 shuffle as a consolation.
Poetry
Initially, Faheem was more interested in poetry than politics. However, he had no choice but to jump into the fray as the political heir of Makhdoom family. "Poetry is my first love. I am still fond of saying verses and reading poetry of others," Faheem says. His forte is mystic poetry. His poetry speaks about love, peace, and simplicity. "I have always been fond of the poetry of Maulana Rumi, Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, and Sachal Sarmast. Their poetry has left a deep impact on my life. I have learnt from them (poets) to be loyal to your loved ones in good or rainy days," he says. "I don't believe in ruling the people. I believe in ruling their hearts. That is why my voters love me, and they never disappointed me," he opines.
