Imran Khan Appoints Leading Global Scholar as Top Advisor

[nitetrogen70]

Islamabad. March 14th, 2012 - The Chairman of Pakistan’s Tehreek-e-Insaf (Movement for Justice) party, Imran Khan, has appointed Dr Azeem Ibrahim as his strategic policy adviser.

Dr Ibrahim's remit will be to develop comprehensive policies which can be implemented as soon as Khan takes office. Scottish-born Azeem Ibrahim, who holds a PhD from Cambridge University and served as a scholar at Harvard and Yale, was named as one of the Top 100 Global Thinkers of 2009 by the LSDP European Social Think Tank. He brings a formidable track record to such a task as over the past ten years, he has advised over half a dozen world leaders.

Imran Khan’s party has gained significant momentum in the polls with a number of high profile defections from opposition parties and is currently riding the 'tsunami' of popularity. Newsweek Pakistan conducted a recent survey with 97,000 people to find the Most Popular Leader in Pakistan. Imran Khan leads the poll with an impressive 86% with no other leader having more than 6%. Many experts believe that on the current trajectory, he is likely to become the next prime minister of Pakistan by a landslide. Dr Ibrahim’s appointment is therefore being viewed as the logical next step as the Khan campaign makes the transition from an opposition political party to a government in waiting.

Imran Khan’s political life began in 1996 with the creation of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party. He established the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre in 1994 and a college namely Namal College in 2008 with funds he raised. His growing popularity brings crowds of over 100,000 to his rallies, and the world-famous cricketer turned politician is getting wide support from both of the main established parties - 81% of PML-N supporters and 61% of PPP supporters give him a favorable rating.

Imran Khan said of the appointment: "We are delighted to have someone with Azeem's experience at the heart of our operation." Azeem who also serves as a Fellow and Member of the Board of Directors at the Institute for Social Policy Understanding said: "Imran Khan’s honesty and sincerity in a country where such traits are seriously lacking amongst the political elite clearly mark him out. When I first met with Imran, I was struck by his ability to absorb huge amounts of complex information and immediately understand what needs to be done to take Pakistan forward in these challenging times. I am greatly honoured to be given this opportunity to serve the next Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Imran Khan Appoints Leading Global Scholar as Top Advisor > Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf > Insaf News

good move by IK

 

[Thəorətic Muslim]

Pakistan doesnt need foreign educated "intellectuals", who dont know anything about Pakistani culture, style or traditions. "Western" ideas to Pakistan's problems will never work. Pakistan needs it own people to come up with solutions to Pakistan's problems not outsiders who are overconfident in their pride.

Take for example Musharraf, when he took over the nation, he brought together Pakistan's brightest minds. From Telecommunications to Education and Health. Not outsiders, except for Aziz. But he wasnt that bad as compared to the current "leaders".

 

[Peregrine]

When IK will take over the office of PM and when will that be?

 

[Safriz]

Pakistan needs radical changes to everything...
most important is the demise of feudelism....
Will IK be able to impliment radical changes?
nobody knows and time will tell..but it looks like he is willing to.

 

[Insaan]

About Azeem Ibrahim

A self-made success in a number of diverse fields, Glasgow-born Azeem Ibrahim has been described by his peers as a brilliant young scholar, financial wizard and last of the true remaining polymaths.
In 2007, Azeem became the youngest person on both the Sunday Times Scottish Rich List and Carter Anderson’s UK Power 100 list, which described him as one of the most influential and highest-achieving people in Britain. The same year Azeem was included in the Observer Courvoisier Future 500 – a definitive list of the nation’s most forward-thinking and brightest young innovators.
In December 2007, a Scottish Parliament motion signed by a number of MSPs congratulated Azeem and his contribution to the country and in April 2008 Azeem accepted the Lloyds TSB and KPMG Business and Commerce Excellence Jewel Award.
In 2010, Azeem was named as one of the Top 100 Global Thinkers of 2009 by the LSDP European Social Think Tank and a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.
His achievements have attracted considerable recognition around the globe and over the last few years Azeem has met and advised a number of world leaders, including the Prime Minister of Turkey and leaders in the Gulf States.

Business Interests
Azeem Ibrahim began by launching his own IT consultancy, later expanding the operation into continental Europe, and then moved onto an insurance corporation for the niche maritime-transportation market.
Since then, he has founded over half a dozen companies, mostly in the financial sector, including an online insurance company specialising in maritime insurance, a private online bank for commodity traders, and an FSA-regulated global macro hedge fund based in London.
Azeem’s most recent venture is Ibrahim Associates, a global strategic consultancy firm aimed at advising governments, NGOs and non-profits on recognising and capitalising on strategic advantage.

Academic life
Azeem’s former professors refer to him as a ‘first-class critical thinker’. He obtained an MBA and an M.Sc.(Econ) in Strategic Studies, then read for a PhD at the University of Cambridge on Geopolitical Strategy. Azeem also served as a Research Scholar on the International Security Program at the JFK School of Government at Harvard University.
Azeem also sits alongside former UK Defence Chiefs as a Director and Board Member of the UKNDA – United Kingdom National Defence Association – which operates to improve the position of the armed forces in government circles.
In 2008 Azeem also became a member of the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy’s Dean’s International Council – a prestigious group of specialists from around the world with substantive experience in government and the private sector including former Prime Ministers, Presidents, Ambassadors and Diplomats. The Council meets twice a year and acts as an advisory group for new policy initiatives and resource development for governments around the globe.
Since then he has been accepted as a Yale World Fellow in 2009. The programme selects emerging global leaders from over 1000 nominations and brought to Yale to undertake the Ivy League School’s signature program in advanced leadership training with some of the leading experts in various fields.
He has also been awarded an honorary doctorate from Glasgow Caledonian University for his contribution to ‘global international affairs and community developments in Scotland,’ an Adjunct Professorship from Fatih University in Istanbul, and was made a Fellow at the Macmillan Centre for International Area Studies at Yale University, an organization dedicated to improving Americans’ understanding of the world beyond their borders.
Most recently Azeem was appointed a Fellow and Member of the Board of Directors at the Institute of Social Policy Understanding in the USA.

Charity and Philanthropic works
Much of Azeem’s time is now devoted to his own charities.
He operates a private grant-giving foundation (Welcome to Ibrahim Foundation) and founded and chairs a number of charities which tackle problems as diverse as family and marriage breakdown in the Asian community in Scotland, (:: Unity Family Services ::), lack of access to higher education for Bosnian students (Benevolence Fund).
He has recently increased his involvement in independent charity initiatives. He launched the first think tank in Scotland which is dedicated to providing education in authentic Islamic teachings, which can help to reduce the appeal of perverse extremist Islamic narratives.
His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales’ Charity, the Princes’ Scottish Youth Business Trust Charity, has also recently appointed him an Ambassador.

Political Involvement
Azeem has also broadened his political involvement over the last year. He was the youngest member of Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s Special Task Force on Social Mobility, on which he was appointed the sub-team leader tasked with studying how internships could help to improve access to the professions in Britain.
He is a regular contributor of editorials to the Scotsman newspaper, politics.co.uk, and a number of other publications around the world, on topics including budgetary policy, defence spending and policy, European integration, Israel-Palestinian peace talks, constitutional matters, Afghanistan and Pakistan, Islamic radicalisation, Scottish energy policy, and politics in Britain

Other interests
For seven years until early 2006, Azeem was a reservist in the IV Battalion Parachute Regiment – the British army’s elite airborne infantry reserve where they are trained to be inserted by parachute behind enemy lines at short notice. He is a fitness fanatic keen on marathon and fell running, and speaks four languages.

BIOGRAPHY- Azeem Ibrahim

 

[Al Bhatti]

About Azeem Ibrahim

A self-made success in a number of diverse fields, Glasgow-born Azeem Ibrahim has been described by his peers as a brilliant young scholar, financial wizard and last of the true remaining polymaths.
In 2007, Azeem became the youngest person on both the Sunday Times Scottish Rich List and Carter Anderson’s UK Power 100 list, which described him as one of the most influential and highest-achieving people in Britain. The same year Azeem was included in the Observer Courvoisier Future 500 – a definitive list of the nation’s most forward-thinking and brightest young innovators.
In December 2007, a Scottish Parliament motion signed by a number of MSPs congratulated Azeem and his contribution to the country and in April 2008 Azeem accepted the Lloyds TSB and KPMG Business and Commerce Excellence Jewel Award.
In 2010, Azeem was named as one of the Top 100 Global Thinkers of 2009 by the LSDP European Social Think Tank and a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.
His achievements have attracted considerable recognition around the globe and over the last few years Azeem has met and advised a number of world leaders, including the Prime Minister of Turkey and leaders in the Gulf States.

Business Interests
Azeem Ibrahim began by launching his own IT consultancy, later expanding the operation into continental Europe, and then moved onto an insurance corporation for the niche maritime-transportation market.
Since then, he has founded over half a dozen companies, mostly in the financial sector, including an online insurance company specialising in maritime insurance, a private online bank for commodity traders, and an FSA-regulated global macro hedge fund based in London.
Azeem’s most recent venture is Ibrahim Associates, a global strategic consultancy firm aimed at advising governments, NGOs and non-profits on recognising and capitalising on strategic advantage.

Academic life
Azeem’s former professors refer to him as a ‘first-class critical thinker’. He obtained an MBA and an M.Sc.(Econ) in Strategic Studies, then read for a PhD at the University of Cambridge on Geopolitical Strategy. Azeem also served as a Research Scholar on the International Security Program at the JFK School of Government at Harvard University.
Azeem also sits alongside former UK Defence Chiefs as a Director and Board Member of the UKNDA – United Kingdom National Defence Association – which operates to improve the position of the armed forces in government circles.
In 2008 Azeem also became a member of the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy’s Dean’s International Council – a prestigious group of specialists from around the world with substantive experience in government and the private sector including former Prime Ministers, Presidents, Ambassadors and Diplomats. The Council meets twice a year and acts as an advisory group for new policy initiatives and resource development for governments around the globe.
Since then he has been accepted as a Yale World Fellow in 2009. The programme selects emerging global leaders from over 1000 nominations and brought to Yale to undertake the Ivy League School’s signature program in advanced leadership training with some of the leading experts in various fields.
He has also been awarded an honorary doctorate from Glasgow Caledonian University for his contribution to ‘global international affairs and community developments in Scotland,’ an Adjunct Professorship from Fatih University in Istanbul, and was made a Fellow at the Macmillan Centre for International Area Studies at Yale University, an organization dedicated to improving Americans’ understanding of the world beyond their borders.
Most recently Azeem was appointed a Fellow and Member of the Board of Directors at the Institute of Social Policy Understanding in the USA.

Charity and Philanthropic works
Much of Azeem’s time is now devoted to his own charities.
He operates a private grant-giving foundation (Welcome to Ibrahim Foundation) and founded and chairs a number of charities which tackle problems as diverse as family and marriage breakdown in the Asian community in Scotland, (:: Unity Family Services ::), lack of access to higher education for Bosnian students (Benevolence Fund).
He has recently increased his involvement in independent charity initiatives. He launched the first think tank in Scotland which is dedicated to providing education in authentic Islamic teachings, which can help to reduce the appeal of perverse extremist Islamic narratives.
His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales’ Charity, the Princes’ Scottish Youth Business Trust Charity, has also recently appointed him an Ambassador.

Political Involvement
Azeem has also broadened his political involvement over the last year. He was the youngest member of Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s Special Task Force on Social Mobility, on which he was appointed the sub-team leader tasked with studying how internships could help to improve access to the professions in Britain.
He is a regular contributor of editorials to the Scotsman newspaper, politics.co.uk, and a number of other publications around the world, on topics including budgetary policy, defence spending and policy, European integration, Israel-Palestinian peace talks, constitutional matters, Afghanistan and Pakistan, Islamic radicalisation, Scottish energy policy, and politics in Britain

Other interests
For seven years until early 2006, Azeem was a reservist in the IV Battalion Parachute Regiment – the British army’s elite airborne infantry reserve where they are trained to be inserted by parachute behind enemy lines at short notice. He is a fitness fanatic keen on marathon and fell running, and speaks four languages.

BIOGRAPHY- Azeem Ibrahim

He looks more qualified (education wise) than all the parliamentarians and ministers combined.

 

[Leader]

Scot out to help Khan win Pakistan elections

by
Catriona Stewart

Scot out to help Khan win Pakistan elections | Herald Scotland

 

[Pakistanisage]

We need to revamp the whole outdated " Kid and kaboodle " system and bring in new ideas to bring Pakistan into 21st century. Bring in as many intellectuals and visionaries as possible and it does not matter whether they are Overseas Pakistanis or Domestic Pakistanis. The main criteria should be that they LOVE PAKISTAN.

 

[Rusty]

This is great news.
When you run a competent party you will attract competent people.
And of course, the opposite is true as well.

And if you look at the development of the Asian Tigers, I think all of them had hired "intelligent" outsides to help them develop.
These kind of expertise are just not found in the indigenous population yet.

Once Pakistan starts to develop these expertise, then we can start hiring indigenous people. But for now, this is the best strategy for the country.

 

[PAKBARBIE]

Pakistan doesnt need foreign educated "intellectuals", who dont know anything about Pakistani culture, style or traditions. "Western" ideas to Pakistan's problems will never work. Pakistan needs it own people to come up with solutions to Pakistan's problems not outsiders who are overconfident in their pride.

i think thats the one thing that pakistan needs right now--foreign or nationally educated individuals. Education standards are much better at Yale and Harvard than any University in Pakistan so this man is an even greater asset to the country than our own scholars. Culture, style, traditions are not as important as a great mind and political competence. to see this we need not look too far, the best example is our very own Founder of Pakistan--Mr. Jinnah!

 

[AstanoshKhan]

Scot out to help Khan win Pakistan elections

by
Catriona Stewart

Scot out to help Khan win Pakistan elections | Herald Scotland

A few quotes by Azeem Ibrahim worth mentioning from the article:

"What struck me most about Mr Khan was his ability to take in vast amounts of information and process it in a very intellectual way," he said. "We spoke for five hours each time and I am convinced he will win the election by a landslide."

"When I first met with Imran Khan he reminded me of all the qualities of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan,"

"The victory of the PTI in the next election will not be the victory of a political party, it will be the re-founding of Pakistan and that is something I am proud to be part of, particularly given my family's Pakistani heritage.

That's what Mr. Ibrahim would do:

In Pakistan he will work on strategic policy development looking at models of public sector management to develop government processes at federal, provincial and local levels with inbuilt restraints on power designed to limit corruption.

I wish Mr. Ibrahim and PTI best of luck and would personally support and promote their cause at every level.

Pakistan Zindabad

 

[nitetrogen70]

insallah he will be able help pakistan in many ways

 

[Thəorətic Muslim]

i think thats the one thing that pakistan needs right now--foreign or nationally educated individuals. Education standards are much better at Yale and Harvard than any University in Pakistan so this man is an even greater asset to the country than our own scholars. Culture, style, traditions are not as important as a great mind and political competence. to see this we need not look too far, the best example is our very own Founder of Pakistan--Mr. Jinnah!

The education standards in UK are alot better than Pakistan's also. Wait .... how many of Pakistan's Politicians are educated there?

 

[truthseer]

Altaf Hussain for one xD

On the other hand, this is a great move although slightly arrogant.

 

[joekrish]

Mr. Khan is a wise man and a good leader, hope to see Pakistan develop in to a progressive country under his leadership that is and that is only if the people of Pakistan are willing to co operate.