Ayman Malik

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**Ayman Malik** (born 22 August, 1951) is a Pakistani politician and businessman who was the nation's Defense Minister on two occasions- from 1989 to 1992, and from 1994 to 1995. After his removal as Defense Minister in 1995, Malik resigned from the PINL, an in 2000 established the Jamiet-e-Islam political party.

Born to an impoverished family in Rawalpindi, Malik served in the Pakistani Navy from 1968 till 1972, and took part in the 1971 war with India. After honourably discharging from military service in 1972, he moved to Doha, Qatar and set up a car garage, which eventually grew to become one of the country's biggest car dealerships after partnering with a local entrepreneur. Malik grew richer and became powerful among the Pakistanis in the Arabian Gulf. He began aiding Ramzan Ali Khan in maintaining the Ali Khan family's monopoly over diamond, fish and gold trade with the Arab world. Malik also acquainted himself with Pakistan's Prime Minister, Sabiya Ali Khan. Together with Sabiya Ali Khan, Malik ensured that the Ali Khan family profited from every business in Pakistan.

In midst of the Soviet-Afghan War in 1985, Ali Khan made Malik the Minister of States and Frontier Territories. Malik used his position to fund the Mujaheddin to counter the Soviet forces; which also served as a way to launder his money. With his closeness to both Arabian rulers, Americans and the Pakistani premier, Malik was appointed as Pakistan's Defense Minister in 1989, after the Soviets announced their withdrawal from Afghanistan. As Defense Minister, Malik immediately shuffled the Pakistani High command, improved relations with both China and the USA, increased military spending by authorizing the high-purchase of Western and Eastern equipment, part of which was due to the heavy kickbacks he received. After the successful 1992 raid on key Indian airfields, Malik's popularity soared. However, he was relieved of duty following the 1992 Pakistani coup d'état. Malik fled to Dubai, and then flew to Europe and met with Sabiya Ali Khan, and played an influential role in her return to premiership two years later. In 1994, he was appointed Defense Minister again, and reshuffled the military again, and increased spending on domestic security.

Following Sabiya Ali Khan's assassination on 20 August 1995, Malik slowly began losing support among his party members. Malik then entered a feud with Mustafa Walid Ali Khan, Sabiya's cousin; prompting Mustafa to use his influence to release secret documents incriminating Malik. The documents, dubbed Lahore Leaks, spoke of Malik's corruption, embezzlement of public funds, racketeering, indulging in sexual intercourse with his staff and the sexual assault of several minor girls, aged below 18. Following the leaks, Malik was removed from office and he left the PINL party, and briefly worked as a professor, before moving to Doha, where he still had some influence.

Mustafa Walid died in 1997, and in 1998, the Pakistani Supreme Court said the Lahore Leaks were fraudulent. Malik, by this time funded a radical fundamentalist organization called the Al-Junud, and returned to Pakistan in 2000 to start Jamiet-e-Islam, Al-Junud's political wing.