Muhammad Safdar Awan Biography: Wife, Age, Children, Net Worth, Height, Career, Politics

Muhammad Safdar Awan, known as Captain Safdar in media and among supporters due to his military background, is a Pakistani politician and retired Pakistan Army officer who served as a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan from June 2008 to May 2018.

A prominent figure in the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), he is best known for his marriage to Maryam Nawaz, daughter of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, and his far-right political stance, including vocal criticism of secularism and the Ahmadiyya community. His political career has been marked by controversy, including legal battles related to corruption allegations.

Profile

• Full Name: Muhammad Safdar Awan
• Stage Name: Captain Safdar
• Born: January 19, 1964
• Age: 61 years old
• Birthplace: Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
• Nationality: Pakistani
• Occupation: Politician, Retired Army Officer
• Height: Unknown
• Parents: Muhammad Ishaq, Mrs. Awan
• Siblings: Sajjad Awan, Tahir Awan
• Spouse: Maryam Nawaz (m. 1992)
• Children: Junaid Safdar, Mahnoor Safdar, Mehr-un-Nisa Safdar
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $5 million

Early Life and Education

Muhammad Safdar Awan was born on January 19, 1964, in Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. He was raised by his father, Muhammad Ishaq, a poet and essayist specializing in Islamic affairs who passed away in 2014, and his mother, whose name is not publicly disclosed.

Growing up in the house of Naseem Khan Swati, a tribal chief of the Swatis in Garhi Habibullah, Safdar has two brothers: Sajjad Awan, a politician, and Tahir Awan. He completed his high school education in Mansehra and later attended Government Post Graduate College Abbottabad, studying Physics, Economics, and Islamic History.

Safdar graduated with a degree in Economics and Statistics, though the institution is not specified. His ethnicity is Pakistani (Swati), and his religion is Islam.

Career

Muhammad Safdar Awan began his career in the Pakistan Army after completing his education, serving as a captain and acting as aide-de-camp to Nawaz Sharif during Sharif’s first term as Prime Minister. After marrying Maryam Nawaz in 1992, he retired from the military and joined the civil services, serving as Assistant Commissioner of Lahore Model Town.

His political career started in 2007 upon returning to Pakistan with the Sharif family after their exile in Saudi Arabia. In 2008, he won a by-election for the National Assembly seat NA-52 (Rawalpindi-III) as a PML-N candidate, securing 54,917 votes after the seat was vacated by Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.

Safdar’s political trajectory continued with his appointment as chief organizer of the PML-N Youth Wing in 2011, though he faced a suspension from the party in 2012 for verbally abusing senior PML-N leaders, a decision supported by his wife and father-in-law. He was re-elected in the 2013 general election from NA-21 (Mansehra-cum-Tor Ghar), receiving 91,013 votes.

His tenure was marred by controversies, including his 2012 public support for Mumtaz Qadri, who assassinated Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer, and inflammatory remarks against the Ahmadiyya community, advocating for their exclusion from the military and key institutions. In 2016, Imran Khan reported Safdar to the Election Commission of Pakistan for allegedly concealing Maryam Nawaz’s assets, leading to a summons.

In July 2018, Safdar was sentenced to a one-year jail term in the Avenfield corruption case by the National Accountability Bureau, resulting in his disqualification from contesting elections for 10 years. He was released on bail in September 2018.

Safdar remains a polarizing figure in Pakistani politics, with limited active political engagement following his disqualification. His legal battles continue, including a treason case filed in October 2020 for provocative speeches, with hearings adjourned until October 2025.

On October 19, 2020, he was arrested in Karachi for violating the sanctity of Quaid-e-Azam’s mausoleum by chanting slogans, but was released on bail the same day. Safdar’s far-right rhetoric, particularly his criticism of secularism and the Ahmadiyya community, has kept him in the public eye, though his influence within PML-N has waned.

He continues to support his wife’s political activities, who serves as Chief Minister of Punjab, while maintaining a low profile amid ongoing legal proceedings.

Social Media

Muhammad does not have any active social media accounts.

Personal Life

Muhammad Safdar Awan married Maryam Nawaz, daughter of Nawaz Sharif, in 1992 at age 28 while serving in the Pakistan Army. The couple has three children: a son, Junaid Safdar, and two daughters, Mahnoor Safdar and Mehr-un-Nisa Safdar.

Junaid, born in 1994, briefly entered politics but resides in London, while Mahnoor studies Fine Arts in Pakistan. Safdar and Maryam faced significant legal scrutiny, including the Avenfield corruption case, but remain prominent in PML-N circles.

Net Worth

Muhammad Safdar Awan’s estimated net worth is approximately $5 million USD. His wealth primarily derives from his political career, business interests, and assets disclosed during the Avenfield trial, including a 500-square-yard plot in Islamabad, a one-kanal plot in Mansehra, 160 kanals of agricultural land, and 15 acres of barren land in Rajanpur. Additional assets include remittances from selling a BMW gifted by his wife and over half a kilogram of gold.