Waris Pathan is a prominent Indian politician and lawyer. Learn more about his life, career, and controversies in this detailed biography.

Wiki/Biography

Waris Pathan, born on Tuesday, November 29, 1966 (age 56 as of 2022), hails from Nagpada, Mumbai, and was raised in Bandra. A Sagittarius, he earned his B.Com from the University of Mumbai in 1988, followed by an LLB from KC Law College in 1991. He immediately began his legal career.

Physical Appearance

• Height (approx.): 6′ 2″
• Eye Colour: Black
• Hair Colour: Black

Family and Caste

Waris Pathan comes from a Muslim family. His father, Yusuf Pathan, was a retired sessions court judge. His wife, Gazala Pathan, is a homemaker. They have two children: a daughter (name undisclosed) and a son, Arbaz Pathan, who is an advocate.

Career

Legal Career

Starting his legal practice in 1991, Waris Pathan became a well-known criminal defense lawyer. He achieved notable milestones, including becoming the first lawyer to secure interim bail for a TADA accused (Abdul Hamid Birya) on medical grounds in the context of the 1993 Mumbai blasts. He also represented Bollywood actor Salman Khan in his 2002 hit-and-run case.

Political Career

In 2014, just days before the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections, Waris Pathan joined the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) party. Remarkably, after a mere 12 days of campaigning, he defeated Madhu Chavan, the then-Congress MLA from Byculla, Mumbai. He served as the Byculla MLA from 2014 to 2019. While he lost the 2019 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election to Shiv Sena candidate Yamini Yashwant, he was appointed as the national spokesperson of AIMIM by party president Asaduddin Owaisi on January 2, 2020.

Controversies

Waris Pathan’s career has also involved several controversies. One notable instance involved his statement regarding chanting “Bharat Mata ki Jai” during a Maharashtra Legislative Assembly budget session in March 2016, leading to his suspension.

Another controversy arose in 2017 when he chanted “Ganpati Bappa Morya” at a Ganpati event, attracting criticism from some Muslim groups. He later issued an apology.

In February 2020, a controversial statement made at an anti-CAA rally in Kalaburagi, Karnataka, resulted in an FIR being registered against him under various sections of the Indian Penal Code. He subsequently clarified his remarks.

Key Events in Waris Pathan’s Life