ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar has removed Texas based Pakistani-American businessman Muhammad Tahir from the post of Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM).
As per a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office, the appointment of SAPM Mohammad Tahir Javed has been rescinded. The initial notification appointing Tahir Javed as the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Investment was issued on October 6, but it has been revoked following lobbying efforts by a group of American Pakistanis, as per insider sources.
Sources from the PM House have revealed that Prime Minister Kakar took this action after reports in both US and Pakistani media uncovered Tahir Javed’s previous conviction for theft, which he failed to disclose. Additionally, it was reported that Tahir Javed, a staunch supporter of Imran Khan, had financially supported him before turning against him.
With the Prime Minister’s approval, the Establishment Division in Islamabad has officially withdrawn the appointment notification for Tahir Javed as Special Assistant.
Shortly after his appointment, it was observed that Pakistani-American businessman Muhammad Tahir Javed was granted privileges similar to those of a state minister, despite his prior financial contributions and campaigning for Imran Khan and the PTI in the United States during Khan’s premiership.
Tahir Javed, aged 57, relocated to the US from Toba Tek Singh in Pakistan with just $500 and gradually built a successful business empire. He reportedly undertook various jobs, including repair work and senatorial duties, in the United States.
According to Texas court records, Tahir Javed received a five-year deferred probation sentence starting in January 1992 for felony theft dating back to September 1990. He served only half of this term, even though felony theft sentences typically start at a minimum of one year. After completing his sentence in 1994, Tahir Javed focused on business, eventually establishing several successful companies with his brother’s assistance.
According to records from the Texas Jefferson County’s District Criminal Court, Tahir Javed’s felony theft case was identified as Cause: 56447, with an offense date of September 25, 1990, in Beaumont, TX. The filing date was November 5, 1990, and the offense description was “theft by receiving.” His probation duration was set at five years, and it was completed on March 28, 1994.
In July 2017, Javed received a warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding his business, Royal Smoke LLC, an online seller of tobacco and tobacco-related products. The warning was issued because the FDA determined that Royal Smoke products were misbranded and sold to individuals under 18 years of age. The FDA’s letter to Javed also cautioned against non-compliant labeling and advertising, indicating that non-compliance could result in criminal prosecution.
Tahir Javed identifies himself as a Pakistani-American entrepreneur, investor, business magnate, and philanthropist on his social media profiles.
Despite campaigning for Imran Khan and the PTI while the party was in power, Tahir Javed has become a vocal critic of Imran Khan in recent months. He described Khan as a failed Prime Minister whose only claim to fame is his status as a celebrity cricketer. In a recent interview, Javed expressed his disappointment with Khan, claiming that his visit to the US in November 2019 yielded no tangible benefits for Pakistan due to Khan’s lack of substance, plan, and vision.
However, during Khan’s tenure, Tahir Javed publicly praised his “successful” US visit and contributions, with Khan acknowledging Javed’s instrumental role in establishing the Pakistan Congress Foundation and reviving the Congressional Pakistan Caucus at the 116th Congress. Tahir Javed boasted of arranging meetings between Imran Khan and over 63 US Senators during Khan’s visit, a claim disputed by PTI, which asserted that Javed managed only three Senators, with the rest being arranged by the Embassy and the government. Photos show Tahir Javed standing alongside Imran Khan during these meetings and their subsequent meeting at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington.
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In 2018, Muhammad Tahir Javed ran in the US Primary Elections to represent Texas District 29 in Congress. His campaign platform emphasized his understanding of the district’s and the country’s challenges and his ability to get things done. He sought to replace Democrat Gene Green, who had represented Texas District 29 since its establishment in 1993 but ultimately lost the election to the veteran Democrat candidate.