Hussain Haroon

Abdullah Hussain Haroon is a Pakistani politician, businessman, and diplomat. He served as the Foreign Minister of Pakistan during the Mulk caretaker ministry. His professional history includes roles as the Speaker of the Sindh Assembly and the Pakistan Ambassador to the United Nations.

Early life and education

Born on 21 October 1950, Haroon belongs to a well-known Memon family. He is the son of Saeed Haroon and the grandson of Sir Abdullah Haroon. Muhammad Ali Jinnah once described his grandfather as one of the strongest pillars of the All-India Muslim League.

Haroon attended Karachi Grammar School, where he studied alongside Benazir Bhutto. He later completed his higher education at the University of Karachi.

Career

His entry into public service occurred in 1970 when he acted as the election Coordinator for the Pakistan Muslim League. Haroon held several local and provincial positions during the following decades. He served as a Councilor for the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation from 1979 to 1985 and was a Trustee of the Karachi Port Trust between 1980 and 1982.

During his tenure in the Provincial Assembly of Sindh, he held multiple leadership roles. He served as a Member of the Provincial Assembly from 1985 to 1988. Within that same assembly, he acted as the Speaker from 1985 to 1986 and later became the leader of the opposition from 1986 to 1988.

Haroon expanded his professional reach into the corporate and educational sectors. He worked as a Consultant for Pakistan Herald Publications Limited from 1988 to 1989. Between 1996 and 1999, he was a Member to the Board of Governors at the Institute of Business Administration in Karachi. His leadership roles included serving as a Director on the Board of Directors for the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation from 1997 to 1999. He also chaired Griffith College Karachi between 1999 and 2005 and led the Pakistan-China Business Forum from 1999 to 2004.

In August 2008, Haroon was appointed as the Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations. He replaced Munir Akram and officially took over the post on 3 September 2008. Although his appointment was considered controversial because he lacked prior experience in the foreign service, he remained in the role until 1 January 2013.

On 5 June 2018, Haroon received his oath of office from the President of Pakistan. He was assigned the portfolios of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Security Division, Ministry of Defence, and Ministry of Defence Production. These roles were intended to assist Caretaker Prime Minister Nasirul Mulk until the 2018 general elections.

Personal life

Haroon is a social activist who has engaged in various civic proposals. He suggested the establishment of a town on the outskirts of Karachi and proposed naming it after the late Benazir Bhutto. His plan involved settling up to six million people from the interior of Sindh in this new area.

He participated in protests against real estate development at Bundal Island by Emaar Properties. Additionally, he advocated for the Sindh case regarding the Kalabagh Dam. In 2017, he expressed disillusionment with the leadership of the Pakistan Peoples Party. This shift left him open to negotiating with other political parties or contesting the 2018 general elections.

His involvement in social organizations remains extensive. He serves as the president of the English Speaking Union of Pakistan and holds the distinction of being the youngest president of the Sind Club.