Story Of Arshad Amin Chaudhry
The Beginnings
Arshad Amin Chaudhry belonged to a landlord family of Layyah, Punjab, Pakistan. Layyah is considered a big district of Punjab, especially from the agri-point of view. The people who are mostly farmers have no such preference for any kind of education or training. His father was a government officer and a landlord, so he emphasized the importance of education. That’s why, in 1980, his father gave him money, and he came to Lahore. Arshad Amin was a young man. He was seven feet tall and had a strong build, and the way a landlord is, he was a young man with a strong body and roots.
Arshad Amin Chaudhry took his first admission in Government College of Technology Railway Road Lahore, which was at Station Chowk. Probably no one in the Technology College knew that he would become such an influential person from this college and earn so much fame in student politics. At that time, there was a student organization named MSF. Arshad Amin Chaudhry had a rural background, and he was a Chaudhry in the true sense and in his lifestyle, his style, his stature, his body, his appearance—he was a Chaudhry in every way.In a few days, he laid the foundation of a local student organization.
In that area is a famous UET (University of Engineering and Technology) in Lahore. The prestigious institute, readily active in student politics.Akram Gujjar was the head of the union there and also the head of QSF ( Quaid e Azam Student Federation). Later, he became an MPA as well. He was also the head of Pakistan MSF. He decided to meet different leaders in the Technology College. Zarrar Hussain Butt, active in student politics there and a fellow of Arshad Amin Chaudhry, arranged his meeting with Akram Gujjar. Akram Gujjar, Zarrar Butt, and Arshad Amin became closely affiliated. This group introduced MSF in the Technology College. MSF was active in three colleges: Lahore Technology College, Islamia College Railway Road, and Dayal Singh College.
Ruling The Student Politics
MSF was present in all these three places but was scattered. Arshad Amin Chaudhry knew how to gather people; he knew three things very well: number one to gather and organize people, second to use them, and third to spend on them. All three things helped him make a name for himself in student politics. He organized the MSF there. At that time, Khwaja Saad Rafiq was the Secretary General of MSF at MAO College. Saad Rafiq saw that a new young man was emerging as a student leader. Saad Rafiq patronized him. Then Saad Rafiq progressed and became the head of MSF Punjab.He himself left the presidency for Arshad Amin Chaudhry and made Arshad Amin Chaudhry the head of MSF Punjab. The first thing Arshad Amin did as soon as he became the head of MSF was to change the position of head and declare himself the chairman of MSF.
MSF has been divided into two factions, now the Abid Chaudhry group and the Arshad Amin group because of Arshad Amin. One faction remained loyal to PMLN, and the other faction joined Muslim League Junejo. This Muslim League was known as Muslim League Jeem at that time, which later became PMLQ. Mohammad Khan Junejo was the Prime Minister. He was from Sindh. With the support of People’s Party, Manzoor Wattoo’s government was established in Punjab. When Manzoor Wattoo’s government was established, a part of Muslim League Jeem, the student wing, was formed known as MSF Jeem. Chaudhry Arshad Amin Sahib became established leader of MSF Jeem. When Saad Rafiq became popular in the parliamentary politics, Abid Chaudhry became the head of MSF in MAO College He developed strong differences that changed into enemity with Arshad Amin Group declaring them as non-student bodies. It rather became a fight of ego and control over the student body, as both of them wanted power and control.Abid Chaudhry emphasized containing Arshad Amin’s influence in the colleges of his area while he wished to control MSF near MAO College. Differences aroused gradually, and one day when Arshad Chaudhry was going for the function, Abid Chaudhry was waiting in ambush and opened fire on Arshad Amin Chaudhry.
Now the bloody rivalry starts between these two.Arshad Amin got shot in his right leg; he got injured. Saad Rafiq and senior politicians tried to arbitrate but failed; now the full-fledged battle starts. In the same period, an election is held in which Islami Jamiat wins against MSF. MSF has to face defeat. Despite the fact that Arshad Chaudhry was very popular. In Dayal Singh College, the chief wins. Jawad Rafiq is his secretary. But the chief loses in Dayal Singh College and MSF loses in Railway Road College. There, Obaidullah Sheikh became the head, and his deputy was appointed; his name was Nawaz Khan, who became vice president. After becoming the deputy head, Nawaz Khan visits Dayal Singh College for welcome. Arshad Amin Chaudhary’s group opens fire on him and he is killed. Islami Jami Talba’s elected deputy head, Islam Nawaz Khan, is targeted and killed in broad daylight. A case is filed against Arshad Amin Chaudhry.
Arshad Amin Chaudhry used to live there in room number five of the hostel, and people used to be scared to go to room number five in that hostel. But there was a crowd of his friends and acquaintances there, and he used to solve issues of people there like a boss. A person named Aslam Tangewala was very famous in the history of hooliganism in Lahore in that locality; he was a criminal, and there were cases against him in every police station of the city.
Aslam Tangewala had grudges with MSF, then he realized that this was a very good opportunity and attacked Arshad Amin and his companions. In those days, a man with 8 to 10 Gunmen appeared outside technology college. This was Teefi Butt; he had come there with his gunmen.He came to meet Jabbar, who was the secretary of MSF Punjab. Jabbar’s relationship with Teefi Butt was before student politics due to same neighborhood. Even at that time, in the early 80s, Arshad Amin’s relationship with Teefi Butt was fragile, and even after Jabbar’s invitation, he chose to meet him outside of the college because of his rift with Arshad Amin Chaudhry. He told Jabbar that this misunderstanding has arisen between Aslam Tanga Wala and Arshad, or your people’s MSF, and you should try and end it. To which Jabbar replies that I am a secretary; Arshad is the chairman of Punjab; this is a tough job for me, still, I will talk to Arshad about it. Arshad Amin was present inside the college, but Teefi Butt avoided talking to him directly.
Teefi tries to arbitrate but fails, and Arshad, who was already dealing with a number of opponents, gets more trouble. These different matters lead to violence in MSF, making it a violent organization. Arshad Amin Chaudhary forms his group in full of violent incidents.
The Kingpin Arshad Amin Chaudhry
The decade from 85 to 95 was very dangerous in terms of violence in student groups. The most important incident during that time was the murder of Abid Chaudhry. Arshad Amin was an expert in using people. What he did was that the first person he introduced to his side was Arif Chaudhry. Through him, He enters Dayal Singh College. His relationship with Arif Chaudhry became such that they both became brothers. Arif and he stayed together till the end of the day. Both were murdered together. Arif and Arshad Amin Chaudhary became brothers in such a way that when Arshad Amin left the hostel, he built his residence in Lahore called Samnabad. It is basically Arif Chaudhary’s house even today. Mohammad Khan was the prime minister, and as prime minister, he loved Arshad Amin so much from the heart that when he came to Lahore in his sick state after getting treatment in the foreign country, the first inquired about Arshad Amin Chaudhry, Arshad Amin received him, and they roamed around in Arshad’s car with PM protocol following them. Such was the bond of sitting prime minister with Arshad Amin Chaudhry. This made Arshad invincible, and many top bureaucrats and politicians approached him for resolving issues and favours.
His relations with Mian Nawaz Sharif were not very good. But Mian Nawaz Sharif Sahab once took the help of Arshad Amin and used him. And once it happened that Nawaz Sharif’s rally was attacked, the case was filed against Arshad Amin. The first incident happened in the 93 elections when Nawaz Sharif’s election was held in 89. This election happened in 1993, during the election campaign of Mian Nawaf Sharif in Pasrur. When Mian Nawaz Sharif came to deliver a speech in that gathering, he saw that his election poster with his picture on it was lying down. So he picked up the poster, kissed it and expressed his displeasure. The next day, in the Jang newspaper, it was published that Mian Nawaz Sharif had expressed his anger over the fact that his poster and picture were thrown down. So a statement was issued from Mian Nawaz Sharif Sahib; that poster had Quaid’s picture on it, and Nawaz Sharif expressed displeasure at the disrespect of Quaid’s photo. After the events, when Jang newspaper was asked to apologize, Jang refused to print Mazrat Nama. After this, leaders of PMLN contacted Arshad Amin Chaudhary to teach Jang a lesson. Under the leadership of Arshad Amin Chaudhry, dozens of boys reached Jang’s office; they first set fire to cars and motorcycles outside the office and later pelted stones, Jang’s office was closed, and Jang, the biggest newspaper of the time, was not published that day, that is, three days after the speech in Pasrur.When in protest, jounalists took out a rally from Lahore Press Club and while they were moving to Jang’s office, fire opened on the rally from the Muslim League House at 33 Davis Road. There was no electronic media. Firing was done on the print media during that procession, and journalists saved their lives by running away and taking cover. Arshad Amin Chaudhry fully supported the leadership of the PMLN.The turning point was the murder of Abid Chaudhry.
Arshad Amin Chaudhary called a new group to him in Lahore. There are three incidents related to it. The first incident was that there was a group of outlaws from Sialkot. It was called the Bala Sialkoti group. It was a very notorious group. They had taken over. They were involved in gambling and bookkeeping. Arshad Amin used these people in a smart way and used them to eliminate Abid Chaudhry. A case of murder of Abid Chaudhry is registered in it; Arshad Amin Chaudhry’s name was in the FIR; Gogi Butt’s name was there; and all the people of the Muslim League’s MSF who could have been involved were named, but real shooters that were from the Bala Sialkoti group, Haji Pervez and Mushtaq, were not nominated. Arshad Amin and others nominated; all of them got arrested; the investigation is considered in some of the biggest investigations in Pakistan.
After investigation, it went to the court. Justice Amir Malik was the judge of Lahore High Court. Justice Amir had a peer sahab who was from Layyah; he was related to Arshad Amin. It is said that Arshad Amin goes to him and requests him to make a call to Justice Amir Malik for the favor in this case. The case is investigated from the bottom, then it goes to the High Court, after the trial court, it goes to the High Court; in the High Court, Justice Amir Malik acquits all the accused, except Mohammad Suhail Arshad’s companion.
Suhail and his other friend, who was the secretary of the Dayal Singh College Union. Both of them had no connection. Arshad Amin and the rest of his friends were declared innocent. And who did they declare guilty? These two people were declared guilty. After that, the investigator, Ghulam Mohammad Kaliyar, was standing outside the court. He was a reputable officer and a very big investigator, he was seen crying with tears.
He said that the court declared the accused, who I had declared innocent, and the poor innocent people were given death sentences. So that person kept crying. He was a very generous investigator. He said that the peer sahab decided against my investigation. This led to a rift between Arshad Amin and Suhail, who was trapped, and he becomes Arshad’s opponent. But Arshad Amin Chaudhry used his contacts to get them out after a few hearings and even helped their family financially during that period. Such gestures attracted a lot of young people to him.
Arshad Amin had such connections that it is said that many policemen killed many of his opponents on Arshad’s orders, many illegal police encounters, which are called fake encounters, were carried out on his orders; and he maintained connections with upper brass Sp-level officers and above. He was the prime minister’s favorite and maintained connections at the high table.
He had very big business and became one of the biggest traders in the history of Lahore railway station. There used to be a lot of chaos in front of the station, so he made a platform there and got a tax imposed on every vehicle from the entrance to the end using his contacts. The district council tax, and the district government of Lahore took a tax.
Arshad Amin got the contract as he introduced it. Four people were employed just to count the cash. So much money was coming in. Apart from that, he knew the art of spending. He used to spend openly on his acquaintances and fully backed them if they got in trouble.
About Nawaz Sharif’s father’s incident, Nawaz Sharif was taking out a rally in the second election, and from Nisbat Road Chowk, there was a drain before Dayal Singh College. When the rally reaches there, Arshad Amin Chaudhary’s friends say that they open fire on the rally; Gogi Butt was also named in it. It is said that the rally had passed from outside Gogi Butt’s house, so he managed to start the firing from there.
Different Story Same Ending
Before this incident, Arshad Amin Chaudhry’s brother named Anwar used to come to Lahore frequently. He used to come to get some tractors and other things. After the shooting, when Anwar visits Lahore, Arshad comes to meet him in room number five of the hostel of Dayal Singh College. They were standing outside and chatting.During this time, when Arshad Amin’s brother came to meet him, he was waving goodbye to his brother outside. He was going back home. When he sits in the car, a bullet hits his chest. Anwar was the same poor man who died. After his death, a case is fresh and it is said that the opponents of Arshad Amin shot Anwar. He got a case registered against Teefi Butt and Gogi Butt. Now Abid Chaudhry’s case was filed against Arshad Ameen. Arshad Ameen’s brother’s case was filed against Gogi and Teefi. Then a war started, which eventually resulted in Arshad Amin Chaudhry’s death.
The student politics was transformed into violent politics. During this whole scenario, another famous character that was not related to student politics appears on the scene.This is the famous Tipu Trakanwala. Tipu already had enemity with Butt brothers and he also wanted student unions by his side to appear more strong. Meanwhile, Arshad Amin’s and Tipu’s sittings at Tipu’s Dera became common, which further alerted Teefi Butt. Things were getting intense and Arshad Amin Chaudhry shifted to Abid Chaudhry’s house in samnabad. Arshad Amin and his opponents both were getting stronger, and in such a tense environment, Chaudhry’s opponents, mainly Teefi, decided to eliminate him with the help of notorious Hanif alias Haneefa and Shafiq Ahmed alias Baba, and a hefty sum was paid to eliminate Arshad Amin. According to a predetermined program, Arshad Amin comes out of that house in Samana Bad
Arshad went to meet Malik Arshad, leader of the People’s Party in Iqbal Town. The irony here is that Malik Arshad and his companions inside the house knew of the plan, and when Arshad Amin went there alive, they were shocked and scared. Arshad didn’t know that people he was meeting were plotting his murder During this, Haneefa and Baba hired to kill Arshad Amin Chaudhry called Malik Arshad and informed him that the reason they backed down earlier was because he was surrounded by some kids. They tell Arshad that they will be outside his place and target him there. Meanwhile, Malik Arshad had tea with Arshad Amin Chaudhry, and as soon as Arshad Amin Chaudhry came out, after nearly one and a half minutes of coming out of the gate, about 2000 bullets were fired. Haneefa and Baba ambushed, sitting on the tree on the cross in front of Arshad Malik, and two-three people stood below. All happened in front of the people Arshad Amin Chaudhry just had a tea with.
A FIR was filed against Teefi Butt, Gogi Butt, and other opponents, but eventually they all were declared innocent after the investigation. Pretty similar to the story I mentioned earlier, the only difference is that the victim this time was Arshad Amin Chaudhry himself.