Former Jamaat Islami chief Munawar Hasan passes away

KARACHI: Former Emir of the Jamaat Islami Munawar Hasan passed away on Friday after a long illness. He was aged 78.

The former Jamaat Islami chief was under treatment at a private hospital and was placed on a ventilator for the past few days after his health deteriorated.  

Jamaat Islami Karachi Emir Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman said that his funeral prayers will be offered tomorrow (Saturday) after Zuhar prayers at the Eidgah Ground in Nazimabad after which he will be laid to rest at Sakhi Hasan graveyard.

The incumbent Emir Senator Siraj-ul-Haq, Deputy Emir Liaquat Baloch and other party leaders had recently visited the hospital and inquired about his health.

Condolences 

PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif has extended his condolences on his passing and said in a tweet: “Grieved to learn about the passing away of former Amir of Jamat-i-Islami Syed Munawar Hassan. His services to Pakistan and commitment to Islam were unwavering. May Allah rest his soul in peace!”

Grieved to learn about the passing away of former Amir of Jamat-i-Islami Syed Munawar Hassan. His services to Pakistan and commitment to Islam were unwavering. May Allah rest his soul in peace! My deepest condolences to the bereaved family & the JI workers.

— Shehbaz Sharif (Stay at home to stay safe) (@CMShehbaz) June 26, 2020

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has expressed his sorrow and offered condolences to the deceased’s family and prayed for the departed soul.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz, former president Asif Ali Zardari, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, and PML-Q leaders Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi expressed grief over the demise of the JI leader and offered condolences.

سابق امیر جماعت اسلامی سید منور حسن کی رحلت پر بے حد افسوس ہے۔وہ جمہوریت کے داعی اور انتہائی نفیس انسان تھے۔دنیا بھر کے مسلمانوں کے حقوق کیلئے وہ توانا آواز بنے۔اللہ تعالی ان کو جوار رحمت میں جگہ عطا فرمائے اور لواحقین کو صبر جمیل دے۔آمین

— Senator Shibli Faraz (@shiblifaraz) June 26, 2020

Profile

Syed Munawar Hasan was born in Dehli on 5th August 1941 and migrated to Karachi at the time of the partition. He obtained a Master’s degree in sociology in 1963, and in Islamic Studies in 1966 from the University of Karachi.

Munawar Hasan joined the National Students Federation and was elected its president in 1959. He came in contact with Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba activists and studied the writings of founder Maulana Maududi and Maulana Naeem Siddiqui.

He joined Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba in 1960 and was elected president of its University of Karachi unit and a member of Central Executive Council organising many public campaigns.

Munawar Hasan joined the Jamaat Islami Pakistan in 1967 and served as Deputy Emir and Emir of the city. He was then elected to the Central Shura and Executive Council of the party.

He was elected the fourth Emir or head of the Jamaat Islami in 2009 but the party suffered a huge defeat in the 2013 general elections after which he offered his resignation.

In March 2014, he became the first sitting emir or head in the history of Jamaat Islami to be voted out of office and was succeeded by Siraj-ul-Haq.