Mamnoon Hussain

Mamnoon Hussain was a Pakistani politician, industrialist and statesman who served as the 12th president of Pakistan from 2013 to 2018. He held the position of Governor of Sindh starting in June 1999 before a military coup ended his term in October 1999. Hussain passed away in Karachi on 14 July 2021 at the age of 80.

Early life and education

Hussain was born in Agra, British India, on 23 December 1940 to Ustad Zafar Hussain. His family specialized in the trade of leather and footwear. They moved to Karachi in 1949 following the Partition of India. After receiving his education at home, he enrolled at Karachi University to study for a Commerce degree. He graduated from the university in 1963. Following this, he entered a master's program at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) in Karachi and obtained an MBA degree in 1965.

He was the second president of Pakistan whose family migrated from India after the Partition. He belonged to an ethnic Muhajir family.

Career

Hussain began his interest in national politics in 1968 when he joined the Pakistan Muslim League (PML) led by Nurul Amin. He served as a chairman and worked as a joint secretary for the Karachi chapter of the party. In 1993, he officially joined the PML(N) under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif. He was subsequently appointed as the Finance Secretary of the PML(N) in Sindh.

Between 1997 and 1998, he served as an advisor to Sindh Chief Minister Liaquat Ali Jatoi. He became the Governor of Sindh in June 1999. This tenure ended on 12 October 1999 when Pervez Musharraf overthrew the federal and provincial governments in a coup d'état. Hussain remained loyal to Nawaz Sharif during the military regime. He eventually became a political prisoner because he raised his voice against the military rule.

He attempted to enter the National Assembly of Pakistan during the 2002 general election. Running as a PML(N) candidate from NA-250 Karachi-XII, he received 5,565 votes. He was defeated by Abdul Sattar Afghani of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA).

Hussain returned to high office when the PML(N) nominated him for the presidency in July 2013. He won an indirect election by securing 432 votes. His opponent, Wajihuddin Ahmed, received 77 votes. The Chief Justice of Pakistan administered his oath on 9 September 2013. He served as president until 8 September 2018. During his presidency, he maintained a low-key profile and participated in a Polio eradication program.

Personal life

Hussain worked to strengthen his father's business before founding his own textile company in Karachi. He joined the center-right Pakistan Muslim League in 1970 as a party worker. His reputation as a business leader grew when he was elected president of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry in 1997. He held that position until May 1999.

In February 2020, Hussain was diagnosed with cancer and underwent treatment. He died in Karachi on 14 July 2021.