Ahmad Mukhtar

Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar (; 22 June 1946 – 25 November 2020) was a Pakistani politician and businessman who served as the Defence Minister of Pakistan in the PM Yousaf Raza Gillani-led cabinet. He also owned Servis Group and founded Shalamar Hospital.

He was a central leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party from Gujrat District and he defeated Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain from Gujrat NA-105 in 1993 and 2008, the leader of PML-Q party, who was allied with President Pervez Musharraf, in the Pakistan's 2008 elections.

Early life and education Mukhtar was born 22 June 1946 in Lahore to Chaudhry Muhammad Hussain, who served as the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in 1977-1978, into a Punjabi Gujjar family with roots in Gujrat. Mukhtar did his Master of Science degree in Operational Management from California, United States and a Diploma in Plastic Technology from West Germany. He became the Defence Minister in the coalition government of PPP, PML-N, ANP and JUI-F formed after 2008 elections on 31 March 2008.

Personal life His brother Ahmad Saeed served as PIA Managing director (from April 2001) and PIA chairman (from April 2003, both until April 2005) during the General Pervez Musharraf era. Ahmad Mukhtar himself took the role of chairman PIA from May 2008.

He was also the brother-in-law of former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, Ijaz Butt.

Death Ahmad Mukhtar died after prolonged illness on 25 November 2020, aged 74.