Sheikh Waqas Akram

Sheikh Waqas Akram (شیخ وقاص اکرم; born 26 August 1976) is a Pakistani politician and a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan since February 2024 and previously served in this position from November 2002 to November 2007 and from March 2008 to March 2013. He was the Minister of State for Labour and Manpower.

Education
He did his matriculation from Abbottabad Public School. He failed his A-levels, and subsequently tried to pass intermediate from Government College, Lahore, but failed that too. He was disqualified for some time as he had submitted fake A-levels certificate while filing his nomination papers for elections. He remained the Federal Minister of Education.

Political career
He won 2008 Pakistani general election from NA-89 on PML-Q ticket. Previously, he had been Parliamentary Secretary of economic Affairs division, also remained Chairman standing committee on Petroleum and natural resources and a senior vice President of PML-Q. He was Member of National Assembly of Pakistan and Minister of State for Labor and Manpower. He was the Federal minister of Education in Asif Ali Zardari govt as a coalition partner of the govt. He could not take part in 2013 general elections because returning officer rejected his nomination papers based on a letter sent by HEC about his fake degrees. He later challenged his rejection in a higher court Tribunal which allowed him to contest Election. He decided not to contest the elections.

He contested the 2018 Pakistani general election from NA-115 Jhang-II as an independent candidate, but was unsuccessful. He received 60,598 votes and was defeated by Ghulam Bibi Bharwana, a candidate of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

On 11 March 2023, Waqas Akram joined the PTI declaring allegiance to the Haqiqi Azadi March and the party's manifesto.

He was re-elected to the National Assembly from NA-109 Jhang-II as an independent candidate supported by PTI in the 2024 Pakistani general election. He received 176,699 votes and defeated Muhammad Yasin Sheikh, a candidate of PML(N).