Waris Pathan is an Indian Politician (affiliated to AIMIM Party), and a High Court lawyer. He has served as an MLA in Byculla, Mumbai from 2014 to 19.
Wiki/Biography
Waris Pathan was born on Tuesday, 29 November 1966 (aged 53 years; as in 2019) in Nagpada, Mumbai and was raised in Bandra. His zodiac sign is Sagittarius. He graduated in B.com from the University of Mumbai in 1988, and later, completed LLB from KC Law College, in 1991. After attaining his LLB degree, he started practising Law the same year.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 6′ 2″
Eye Colour: Black
Hair Colour: Black
Family and Caste
Waris Pathan was born into a Muslim family.
Parents & Siblings
Waris Pathan is the son of a retired sessions court judge Yusuf Pathan.
Wife & Children
Waris Pathan’s wife, Gazala Pathan is a Homemaker.
A Picture of Waris Pathan with his wife in 2013
He has two children; a daughter & a son. His daughter’s name is not known.
A 2013 picture of Waris Pathan with his daughter
His son, Arbaz Pathan is an advocate.
A picture of Waris Pathan with his son Arbaz Pathan after casting their votes under South Mumbai Parliament Constituency, Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Career
Legal Career
Waris Pathan started his legal practice in 1991. He is a criminal defence lawyer. Waris went on to become the first lawyer to bail out a TADA accused (Abdul Hamid Birya, accused in the 93 Mumbai blasts) on interim bail on medical grounds. He was also the first lawyer of Bollywood actor Salman Khan for his hit-and-run case (2002).
Political career
Waris Pathan joined the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) party in 2014, just a few days prior to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election. With just 12 days of campaigning, he was successful in beating Madhu Chavan, the then Congress MLA from Byculla, Mumbai. He served as the MLA of Byculla from 2014 to 2019. He again ran for Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election 2019, which he lost to Shiv Sena candidate Yamini Yashwant. On 2 January 2020, Waris was appointed as the national spokesperson of AIMIM party by the president of AIMIM Asaduddin Owaisi.
Controversies
- On 15 March 2016, the situation heated up in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly during a budget session when Waris Pathan said, he would not chant “Bharat Mata ki Jai” at any cost. Members of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly unanimously proposed for the suspension of Waris Pathan from the assembly; leading the speaker to suspend him. Countering his suspension, Pathan later said:
I love my country. I was born here and I will die here. I can never dream of insulting my country. Don’t judge anyone’s love for the country by just one slogan. Jai Hind, Jai Bharat, Jai Maharashtra.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bKY4s1shBQ
- In 2017, Waris Pathan was extensively criticized by several Muslim groups of India as well as members of his party AIMIM for chanting ‘Ganpati Bappa Maurya’ during a Ganpati programme in his constituency Byculla, Mumbai. He addressed the devotees present at the function and said that “he prays may Lord Ganesha remove all the obstacles from their paths and shower them with happiness & prosperity.” This action drew him criticism from Muslim clerics who reportedly regarded the chant Un-Islamic for a Muslim, thus, after this; he released a video of apology.
- On 19 February 2020, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Waris Pathan, issued a controversial statement while addressing an Anti-CAA rally in Karnataka’s Kalaburagi. He said,
The time has now come for us to unite and achieve freedom. Remember, we are 15 crore but can dominate over 100 crores,”
By this statement, he reportedly meant that 15 crore Indian Muslims are capable of dominating 100 crore Indian Hindus. An FIR was registered against Waris Pathan by the Kalaburagi Police, under sections 117 (abetting commission of an offence by the public), 153 (provocation with intent to cause riot), and 153A (promoting enmity between different groups) of the Indian Penal Code. He had to face the public’s rage, following his allegedly anti-national speech. He later retracted his statement, saying that his remarks have been misinterpreted by people. He further elucidated that “100” in his statement implied to those 100 people who are involved in anti-Muslim politics.