ISLAMABAD - Fifty-six years old Mushahid Hussain Syed, presidential candidate of PML-Q belongs to a middle class family. He is a successful politician, journalist, writer and an analyst. His life is full of success stories. Mushahid Hussain has a Master's degree from the School of Foreign Services in Georgetown University at Washington. While studying in the US, he was president of the Pakistan Students Association and was awarded a Congressional Internship to work in the United States Congress. After completion of studies in the United States, he returned to Pakistan and became member directing staff of the country's prestigious training institution for civil servants, the Pakistan Administrative Staff College, training new diplomats. He then joined Pakistan's oldest seat of learning, Punjab University, as lecturer on international relations in the Political Science Department, from where he along with three other teachers was removed on political grounds during Martial Law. In 1982, at an age of 29, he became the youngest Editor of national English daily, 'The Muslim', published from capital Islamabad, which was respected for its independent positions. As a specialist on international political and strategic issues, he has lectured widely and his articles have been published in various national and international publications including 'The New York Times', 'The Washington Post', 'International Herald Tribune', and 'Middle East International'. He was elected Co-Chairman of the NAM Media Conference of 100 countries, held in New Delhi in December 1983 and he is the first Pakistani journalist to have started a syndicated column in the Indian media, writing regularly in the 'Times of India' and the 'Hindustan Times' in 1989. Mushahid Hussain is the author of three books. He is also Chairman of the Board of Governors of Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI), a leading Think Tank. He is also the vice president of the Centrist Democrat International (CDI) Asia - Pacific Chapter. On January 27, 2006, he was awarded Congressional Medal of Achievement by the House of Representatives of the Republic of the Philippines. He served as Pakistan's Representative to the 15-member Commission of Eminent Persons of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) tasked with preparing a Plan of Action & Reforms for the Muslim World by the Summit of Islamic Leaders held in Malaysia in October 2003. Mushahid Hussain Sayed is currently a Senator and Chairman Foreign Relations Committee of the Senate. He is also secretary general of the Pakistan Muslim League. He has been a cabinet minister, journalist, university teacher and political analyst. As information minister from 1997 to 1999, Mushahid Hussain was the country's principal spokesman and appeared frequently on international television and radio channels to present Pakistan's position on issues ranging from nuclear weapons to Islam and foreign policy. He was also Leader of Pakistan's Delegation to the UN Human Rights Commission at Geneva in 1993. After October 12, 1999, Mushahid Hussain was held without any charges as a political prisoner for 440 days, including a period in solitary imprisonment. The world's leading human rights organisation, Amnesty International, declared him a 'Prisoner of Conscience' making him the first such Pakistani to be so honoured for the year 2000. Pakistan Muslim League has nominated Mushahid Hussain Syed due to his multidimensional personality and his command on international affairs.