Jawad Ahmad

Jawad Ahmad is a Pakistani pop singer and musician turned politician.

Jawad Ahmad is currently chairman of Barabri Party Pakistan, a leftist political party that he founded in 2017.

Early life and education Jawad Ahmad was born on 29 September 1970 in Lahore, Punjab into a Kashmiri family who immigrated to Pakistan after independence, with both his parents being college professors teaching Political Science. His father Tauqeer Ahmad Shaikh, who was a professor at the Government College University, Lahore, died in November 2023; Jawad has three siblings, a sister and two brothers.

Jawad Ahmad received a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Lahore. He draws inspiration from a diverse range of musical personalities such as Ustad Amanat Ali Khan, Mehdi Hassan, Ustad Salamat Ali Khan, Tufail Niazi, Pathanay Khan, Hamid Ali Bela, Madam Noor Jehan, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Kishore Kumar, Eagles, Elvis Presley, Mohammed Rafi. The party fielded 14 candidates in the 2018 elections, with Jawad himself contesting 3 seats against the chiefs of the three major political parties in the country - Imran Khan of PTI, Shahbaz Sharif of PML-N, and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari of PPP, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi of AP, and Aleem Khan of IPP. The party did not win any seats.

Ahead of the 2024 elections, his party was delisted for failing to conduct intra-party elections and was not eligible to contest any seat.

Other work

Social work In 2002, he was appointed as the ambassador of Pakistan for the eradication of polio by Pakistan's Ministry of Health and the UNICEF. He participated in the British Council's Beyond Borders project in order to raise awareness about the dangers of drug addiction, producing a song called Tum Abhi To Aa Kar to illustrate the social impact of drug use. He sang another social awareness song Taaleem Sub Kay Liey for a project funded by USAID.

Another turf is a program against illiteracy, which he has been exploring. In conjunction with this, he is running ten schools in the least developed areas of Pakistan under the Taleem for All program. LESCO officials filed a police report alleging that Jawad assaulted their staff during a meter inspection. Jawad denied the allegations, describing the case as "politically motivated" and a conspiracy against his political career.

Discography

Albums

Popular songs Title Note Tum Jeeto Ya Haaro Mehndi Ki Yai Raat Soundtrack of the 2003 drama Mehndi Allah Meray Dil Kay Ander Tu Hi Dildar Hai Banto Di Jaan Haan Main Ucchayan Majajan Wali O Kendi Ae Dholna Pakistani film Mein Ek Din Laut Kay Aaoon Ga (2007) (music and lyrics by Jawad Ahmad) Pakistani and Indian joint-venture film Virsa (2010) (music arranged by Jawad Ahmad)

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Awarding Body Result 2003 Lux Style Award Best Singer 2003 Best Singer Lux Style Award 2006 Sitara-e-Esar Award (Medal of Distinction) Acknowledging the services of Jawad Ahmad in the field of music 2002 Polio Eradication Ambassador Award Ambassador for Polio Eradication by the Ministry of Health and UNICEF 2007 Indus Music Awards Indus Music's Best Bhangra Song Award Indus Music Awards