Raja Parvez Ashaf, 61, comes from a family of agriculturists
ØA strong loyalist of the Bhutto family, he was elected to the National Assembly from Gujar Khan constituency in Rawalpindi district
ØAs water and power minister under PM Gilani, he was seen by many Pakistanis as someone who had failed to ease a crippling energy crisis
ØResigned from Gilani's cabinet in February last year after allegations of corruption in power projects
ØAshraf oversaw the import of short-term power stations, or 'rental power' projects that cost the government millions of dollars but produced little energy. The policy earned him the nickname 'Raja Rental'
Ø Returned to the cabinet in April this year when he was appointed minister for information technology
Ashraf has been active in national politics since 1988. He fought but lost parliamentary elections in 1990, 1993 and 1997, but won in 2002 and 2008. His repeated promises as minister of water and power in Gilani's cabinet to end power shortages in one year remained unfulfilled and his tall claims became a joke in Pakistani media. Gilani dropped him from the cabinet in a reshuffle in February 2011.
However, a few months later, he returned as minister for information technology. Ashraf 's incompetent handling of the power sector and his alleged corruption in the infamous rental power projects is being hotly debated on TV channels. Critics call Ashraf "Raja Rental" for his alleged involvement in $1.5 billion rental power project scam. He denies those charges.
Water and Power ministry
ØHe became the head of the Water and Power Ministry in the coalition government of PPP, PML-N, ANP, JUI-F and MQM formed after the 2008 elections.During his tenure as power minister, there was a chronic shortage of electricity generation throughout the country and power cuts (load shedding) remained frequent.
ØIn the position, he faced heavy criticism for repeatedly promising the country's power crisis would be over "by December" as the country suffered regular blackouts.
