Shah was born on 20 April 1952. He completed his education from Government Islamia Science College, Sukkur. He received his master's degree in History in 1974 and his LLB in 1978, both from Islamia College, Sukkur. Shah is a professional lawyer and a businessman.
Political career
Shah began his political career after becoming a member of the Provincial Assembly of Sindh for the first time in 1988 from Sukkur constituency on the Pakistan Peoples Party ticket, after which he became member of the provincial cabinet, in various positions. He served as the Minister for Education, Minister for transport, Minister for Import,Minister for Finance and Minister for Information. Shah was elected as the member of the National Assembly for the first time in 1990 from Sukkur constituency. Shah was elected as the member of the National Assembly for the second time in 1993 from Sukkur constituency. Shah was inducted into federal cabinet in 1993 and was appointed as a Minister for Education in Benazir Bhutto's second ministry. Shah was re-elected as the member of the National Assembly for the third time in 1997 from Sukkur constituency. Shah was elected as the member of the National Assembly for the fourth time in 2002 from Sukkur constituency. In 2012, Shah became chairman of the parliamentary committee on appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan. Shah was re-elected as the member of the National Assembly for the fifth time in 2008 from Sukkur constituency. Shah was inducted into the federal cabinet after the 2008 Pakistani elections and was appointed as a Minister for Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis from March 2008 to May 2011. Minister for Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis was divided into two ministries in 2009, and Shah remained with Minister for Labour and Manpower. He was given the additional portfolio of Minister for Religious Affairs, where he served from December 2010 to 2013, both in the Gillani ministry. Shah was the parliamentarian leader of PPP in the National Assembly from 2008 to 2013. Shah, along with leaders of other political parties, was tasked with selection on the name for caretaker prime minister of Pakistan prior to the 2013 Pakistan election. Shah was re-elected as the member of the National Assembly for the sixth time in 2013 from second Sukkur constituency. Shah was a potential candidate to become Prime Minister of Pakistan after Yousaf Raza Gillani was disqualified from holding the office. In June 2013, Shah was appointed as the Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly by PPP. Shah is also chairman of the Public Accounts Committee in the National Assembly. Shah is said to have good relations with the leaders of other political parties in Pakistan. He was re-elected to the National Assembly as a candidate of PPP from Constituency NA-206 in 2018 Pakistani general election. Following his successful election, PPP nominated him for the office of Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan. He received 146 votes and lost the election to Asad Qaiser who received 176 votes.
