Afshan Rafiq, who was born on 25 February 1975 in Oslo to Pakistani parents, is a Pakistani Norwegian politician for the Conservative Party. She graduated from the University of Oslo in 1999 with the cand.mag Degree. In 2000 she enrolled in medicine studies.
Afshan became involved in the Young Conservatives as a teenager, and served as a member of Oslo city council from 1995 to 2001. In 2001 she was elected to the Norwegian Parliament from Oslo, as the first minority person elected to the Norwegian Parliament.
Pakistan-born Athar Ali had served earlier, but as a deputy representative. Afshan was not re-elected in 2005. Instead, she served in the position of deputy representative during the term 2005–2009.
Afshan resides at Høybråten, and is married to fellow politician Aamir J. Sheikh, with whom she has one daughter. Sheikh had originally gone through an arranged marriage, but this was annulled in 2003, and married Afshan one year later. Afshan has also spoken out against the caste system.
