Believe it or not but it is a fact that the interim Punjab government is captured by the Lahore Gymkhana Club members, as all six provincial ministers, including Zia Haider Rizvi -cousin of the caretaker Chief Minister Dr Hasan Askari Rizvi – are members of the city’s upscale club.
According to sources, Minister for Finance, Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Zia Haider Rizvi is a founder of Zia group in Lahore Gymkhana Club. He is also an income tax lawyer an active member of Lahore Tax Bar Association (LTBA). The minister is also serving as honorary consul general in Thailand.
The caretaker finance minister had also held portfolios of former CM’s adviser on taxation and Pakistan Super League (PSL) director.
He had also served as advocate general (West Pakistan), high court judge (West Pakistan), member legislative assembly and minister of law and rehabilitation (West Pakistan).
In 1975, he also established Rizvi and Company.
Meanwhile, interim Home Minister Shaukat Javed had served as former Punjab Police inspector general, Punjab Intelligence Bureau (Crime Branch) director general and DIG in Lahore and Multan.
It may be mentioned that the interim chief minister, who belongs to Mandi Bahauddin, is still single.
Published in Daily Times, June 13th 2018.