Ayla Malik, a Pakistani politician who is descended from a feudal family, served in the National Assembly from 2002 to 2007 in a seat designated for women.
The granddaughter of Malik Amir Mohammad Khan of Kalabagh, a strong feudal and former governor of West Pakistan, was born in Mianwali on October 6, 1970.
Ayla’s sister Sumaira Malik is a politician who served in the National Assembly from 2003 till 2013. They are Sardar Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari’s nieces, the eighth president of Pakistan.
Ayla Malik entered politics in the ’90s by becoming a member of the Farooq Leghari-led Millat Party. She first served as Deputy Secretary General of the Millat Party and later joined Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) in 2011 where she served as campaign manager of ousted premier Imran Khan in Mianwali.
Ayla Malik couldn’t be elected to the Parliament since the former ruling party didn’t win enough seats. Imran Khan then chose to run her in the by-elections for the seat in his hometown of Mianwali after deciding to keep the Rawalpindi seat.
The PTI leader also gave broadcast journalism a shot by hosting “Situation Room with Ayla Malik,” a current affairs programme on Dunya News.
In the year 2013, Malik suffered injuries after unidentified persons attacked her convoy in her hometown.
She remained active in politics on and off while her career has been marred by several scandals.
From holding fake educational certificates to defaulting on a Rs40 million loan from Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited, she remained in news over the years and was disqualified from contesting the Mianwali by-election in 2013.
Recently, the former minister was trending on social sites for allegedly being featured in an audio conversation with PTI Chairman Imran Khan. A debate has started on social platforms with people questioning the self-fashioned populist leader’s conduct while Ayla remains tightlipped about the leaks.
