Munawar Hasan

Munawar Hasan (Urdu: سید منور حسن; 5 August 1941  26 June 2020) was a Pakistani politician and a President of Jamaat-e-Islami political party.[1] He served as a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan in 1977.

Munawar Hasan
سید منور حسن
Emir of Jamaat-e-Islami
In office
29 March 2009  29 March 2014
Preceded byQazi Hussain Ahmad
Succeeded bySiraj-ul-Haq
Personal details
Born5 August 1941
Dehli, British India
Died26 June 2020(2020-06-26) (aged 78)
Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Nationality British Indian (1941–1947)
 Pakistani (1947–2020)
Political party Jamaat-e-Islami
Alma materUniversity of Karachi
(BSc, MSc)
OccupationReligious Leader,
Politician,
Foreign policy commentator
ProfessionProfessor, religious leader

Early life and career

Munawar Hasan was born in Delhi, British India on 5 August 1941. During the partition of India, he migrated with his family and settled in Karachi. He obtained a Master's degree in sociology in 1963 and in Islamic Studies in 1966 from the University of Karachi. Hasan became president of the National Students Federation in 1959.

His life changed when he befriended activists of Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba Pakistan and studied the writings of Abul Ala Maududi and Naeem Siddiqui. He joined Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba in 1960 and became president of its University of Karachi unit, Karachi City Unit, and a member of its Central Executive Council. He became its national president in 1964 and served in that capacity for three consecutive terms. During his tenure the Jamiat organised several campaigns mobilising public opinion regarding education issues.[2]

He joined the Islamic Research Academy and later Islamic Jerusalem Studies, at Karachi as a research assistant in 1963. He became its secretary general in 1969. Under his supervision, the academy published 70 scholarly books. He also served as managing editor of The Criterion and The Universal Message, Karachi.

Hasan became a member of Jama'at-e-Islami Pakistan in 1967. He served the Karachi unit as Assistant Secretary, Secretary, Deputy Ameer and Ameer of the city. He was then elected to the Central Shura and the Executive Council of the Jama'at. He represented the group at several platforms, including United Democratic Front and the Pakistan National Alliance formed by many Pakistani political parties. He ran for the NA-191 Karachi-IX[3] seat of the National Assembly of Pakistan in 1977 and secured the highest vote tally in Pakistan. He was Assistant Secretary General of Jama'at-e-Islami Pakistan in 1992–93 and became Secretary General in 1993. He was elected Emir or head of the party in 2009.[2]

He was known for his simple living style and was cited as an example, "For decades he lived in a two-room portion in the house of Jamaat leader Naimatullah Khan in Karachi, content with the stipend from his party."[2] Munawar Hasan had always been more of an ideologue rather than a pragmatic leader trying to form political alliances with other parties in Pakistan.[4][2]

Pakistani general election, 2013

After Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan’s loss in the Pakistani general election, 2013, Hasan accepted responsibility and offered to resign from his position, but the Executive Council refused this.[5]

In March 2014, Hasan became the first head in the history of JI to be voted out of office when Siraj-ul-Haq Khan was elected head by the members with voting rights.[1] At least one analyst, Nasir Jamal, attributed the change in leadership to JI Arakeen's desire for a younger and more pragmatic leader.[4][1][5]

Controversies

In November 2013, Hasan called Hakimullah Mehsud, slain leader of Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan, a martyr. This was controversial in Pakistan. The Inter-Services Public Relations, the media wing of Pakistani Armed Forces, said this insulted the civilians and soldiers killed in Pakistan’s war against terror and demanded that he apologise.[6][7]

Death

On 11 June 2020, JI Karachi-chapter leader confirmed that Hasan had contracted Covid-19 and was in ICU.[8] He died on 26 June in Karachi.[9][10][11]

See also

References

  1. "Sirajul Haq elected as new (Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan) JI chief". Dawn (newspaper). 30 March 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  2. Asha'ar Rehman (16 January 2014). "When an ideologue is popular". Dawn (newspaper). Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  3. "6TH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FROM 28th March 1977 TO 5TH JULY 1977" (PDF). www.na.gov.pk.
  4. Jamal, Nasir (1 April 2014). "Analysis: Why Jamaat discarded Munawar Hasan". Dawn (newspaper). Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  5. Khalid Hasnain (2 June 2013). "JI (Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan) rejects Munawar's resignation". Dawn (newspaper). Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  6. "JI chief's remarks an insult to Pakistan's martyrs: ISPR". DAWN.COM. 10 November 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  7. "Pakistani army blasts Islamist party leader for calling Taliban chief 'martyr'". the Guardian. 12 November 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  8. "JI leader Munawar Hasan, MQM-P's Khawaja Izhar contract coronavirus". Samaa TV.
  9. "Former JI ameer Syed Munawar Hassan passes away". Dunya News. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  10. "Former JI chief Syed Munawwar Hasan passes away at 78 | SAMAA". Samaa TV. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  11. "CM Murad Reveals Munawar Hassan, Talib Jauhari, Mufti Naeem Died From Coronavirus". Naya Daur. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
Party political offices
Preceded by
Qazi Hussain Ahmad
Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami
2009–2014
Succeeded by
Siraj ul Haq
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