London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Rehman Chishti is a Pakistani-born British Conservative Party politician who has been representing Gillingham and Rainham since 2010. He served under Theresa May as the Vice Chair of the Conservative Party for Communities in 2018. Moreover, he has been the Prime Ministerial Trade Envoy to Pakistan from 2017 to 2018. From July to September 2022, he was Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for North America, Sanctions, and Consular Policy.
Bio & Early Life
Atta-Ur-Rehman Chishti was born on 4th October 1978 in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. His father Abdul Rehman Chishti was recruited as Federal Adviser on religious affairs to Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s Government in 1976. Unfortunately, soon afterward Bhutto was removed from power by General Zia-Ul-Haq and later executed. As a result, Rehman didn’t have any contact with his father during his first six years of life.
In 1984, at age six, he along with his mother and elder sister flew on a British Airways flight. This was to join their father in the UK and since then they have resided in Gillingham and Rainham.
Rehman went to many educational students that include Napier Primary School, Fort Luton High School for Boys, and Rainham Mark Grammar School. Aside from his school, he also played cricket for Medway District and Kent Schools. As a Barrister, Chishti studied law at the University of Wales Aberystwyth and the Inns of Court School of Law.
Political Career
From 1999–2007, Chishti acted as a political adviser to Benazir Bhutto, who had previously served as Prime Minister of Pakistan. He attended meetings with her and British diplomats in both Dubai and London. It includes Jack Straw and David Miliband in 2005 and 2007 respectively. Furthermore, Chishti facilitated Bhutto’s transition to democracy by working with the UK government as the facilitator. This happened during a meeting between Bhutto and Mark Lyall Grant, the High Commissioner to Pakistan, in 2004.
In 2005, Chishti stood for the Labour Party in Horsham. Later, he joined the Conservative Party, and he was selected as a candidate for the marginal seat of Gillingham and Rainham. This was held by Labour by a margin of fewer than 300 votes in 2005. In 2003, Chishti was elected as a Labour member for Gillingham North ward on Medway Council. Four years later, he gained the Rainham Central ward for the Conservatives. Becoming the Conservative MP for the area in 2010 and re-elected to Rainham Central as a counselor in both 2011 and 2015.
At the 2019 council election, Chishti chose to stand down. In 2007 he took on the role of Member for Community Safety and Enforcement on Medway’s Council Cabinet. This helped make him the Medway’s youngest Cabinet Member ever. While concurrently serving as an Advisor to Francis Maude (who had contested Horsham against Chishti in 2005). It was when Maude was Chair of the Tory Party back in 2006.
Member of Parliament
In 2010, Chishti was elected to represent Gillingham and Rainham as a Member of Parliament. According to The New Statesman, Chishti is one of the best MPs under 40 in their generation. Many believe he has the potential to become the next Prime Minister. In 2011, Chishti was listed by the BBC as one of the most frequent speakers in Parliament from the intake of 2010. The Sunday Telegraph described him as an emerging star of the party.
Chishti was named parliamentarian of the year by the road safety charity Brake in 2013 for championing road safety issues in Parliament. This all included persuading the government to adopt his private member’s bill to increase the sentence for those who cause death by driving. He took action when an incident when the motorist had been banned from driving at the time. The government has agreed to increase the maximum custodial sentence from two to ten.
Special Envoy On Freedom of Religion or Belief
Rehman Chishti is the Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief for the United Nations. His job is to help countries around the world that are experiencing a lack of freedom of religion or belief. He is working with countries in Asia and Africa to help them get their freedom of religion or belief back. He has seen many countries around the world in trouble because of their freedom of religion or belief being taken away. Moreover, he has helped countries where religions are banned. While he is doing everything he can to help them get their freedom back.
Personal Life & Net Worth
Rehman Chishti is a popular politician. He has been a member of parliament for two different parties, the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and the Pakistan People’s Party. Chishti is known for his work with the International Federation for Human Rights and the International Commission of Jurists. He is a Muslim and a son of the imam. He believes in showing reverence to other religions and doesn’t shy away from doing his duty. His total net worth is around $million which will continue to grow in the future.
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Private Members Bills and Presentation Bills
In December 2017, Rehman Chishti introduced a Private Members Bill in the House of Commons to amend the British Nationality Act 1981. It was to provide for the conferral of British citizenship by descent on children born in the United Kingdom. Whether they are a British-born citizen or not. The Private Members Bills and Presentation Bills introduced by Rehman Chishti are not just about the overall content of the bills, but also about the process.
It was introduced by members of Parliament and has to be passed by the House of Commons. This happens much before they are considered for a vote in the House of Lords. The Private Members’ Bills and Presentation Bills are different from other bills because they do not have to be presented in the form of a bill. They are instead submitted as a document. These bills are either introduced by the Government to make changes in the law.