H.E. Shaukat Aziz, Former Prime Minister, Republic of Pakistan
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz was the prime minister of Pakistan from 2004 to 2007. He became finance minister in November 1999 and was hand-picked by President Musharraf for the position of prime minister after the resignation of Zafarullah Khan Jamali on June 6, 2004. He became the first prime minister of Pakistan to complete a full term in office.
In 1969, Prime Minister Aziz joined Citibank, serving in various countries including Pakistan, Greece, the United States, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, and Singapore. He served as Citibank’s head of corporate and investment banking for the Asia Pacific region, Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa; as corporate planning officer, Citicorp; as Citibank’s chief country officer in Malaysia and later, in Jordan. He has been a board member of Citibank subsidiaries, including Saudi American Bank, Citicorp Islamic Bank, and of several non-profit organizations. Prime Minister Aziz was named by the Pakistan Muslim League as the next prime minister after Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali resigned on June 6, 2004.
The post was held by Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain while Prime Minister Aziz fulfilled the constitutional requirement of securing a seat in the lower house of parliament. Prime Minister Aziz ran from two constituencies, Tharparkar-I in Sindh and Attock- III, located west of Islamabad. While campaigning on July 29, 2004 Prime Minister Aziz survived an assassination attempt in the small town of Fateh Jang in Attock District. A suicide bomber blew himself up next to a car in which Aziz was travelling, killing his chauffeur and eight others. Prime Minister Aziz continued campaigning and won from both constituencies. Since he could retain only one seat, he immediately vacated his Tharparkar seat, preferring to represent Attock.
