Qazi Hussain Ahmad

Qazi Hussain Ahmad (born 1938) (Pashto/Urdu: قاضی حسین احمد) was the third president (1987–2009) of the Islamist political party Jamaat-e-Islami, a major political party in Pakistan. Ahmad was also head of the Muttahidah Majlis-e-'Amal (English: Council of United Action), a coalition between religious-political parties.

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Personal life

He has 5 children, three sons and two daughters, in which one of them died young. One of his sons is currently vice president of Jamaat-e-Islam.

Early life

Qazi was born in 1938 in the house of Maulana Qazi Muhammad Abdul Rab at Ziarat Kaka Sahib, Distt. Nowshera, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Qazi Sahib is descendant of great Seljoki Sheikh Hazrat Akhun Adeen/Adyan,who was a teacher of Hazrat kakaka sahib and contemporary of khushal Khan Khattak,the shrine of sheikh Akhund Adyan is at Akora khattak,the descendants of sheikh Akhund Adyan seljoki are titled as Qazi or Qazyan and mostly are living at ziarat kaka sahib. A teacher by profession, Maulana knew religious knowledge and political influence to the extent that he was appointed as the President of Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Hind for Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Qazi Hussain Ahmed was the youngest among his ten siblings.

After having completed early education at home, Qazi Hussain Ahmad was admitted to Islamia College, Peshawar and got his Masters of Science (M.Sc.) degree in Geography from Peshawar University. He served as lecturer for three years, teaching at the graduate level. He was removed from the university. After that he started his own business. He marked his presence in this field and was elected as Vice President, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (Provincial) Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Political career

His affiliation with the Islamic Movement started in his school days when he joined Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba, Pakistan. He became member of Jamaat-e-Islami in 1970 and was elected to the office of President of its Peshawar branch. He served Jamaat-e-Islami as Secretary and then Ameer of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. He was raised to the office of Secretary General, Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan in 1978 and after elected as Ameer (Chief) of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan in 1987, continues to serve in that capacity, getting re-elected four more times (1992, 1994, 1999, 2003). In 2008, he excused to be elected once more and the members of his Party (Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan) elected Syed Munawwar Hassan as the new President of the Party.

Qazi Hussain Ahmad was first elected as member of the Senate of Pakistan in 1986 for a term of six years. He was re-elected as such in March 1992, but he resigned as a Senator in 1996 as a protest against the corrupt political system. He was elected as a Member of National Assembly in 2002 general elections from his native town lagislative. He served as the Parliamentary Laeader of the Opposition Party (muttahida Majlis-e-Amal).

Qazi Hussain Ahmad has widely traveled abroad to represent Jamaat at the international forums, leading goodwill missions as well as in his personal capacity to mediate in issues concerning Muslim Ummah. His services during Iran-Iraq and the Persian Gulf War, the Bulkan (Bosnia) crisis and the post-Soviet power struggle in Afghanistan, have been widely commended and appreciated. Even before the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, Qazi Hussain Ahmed was in close contact with Afghan mujahideen and had personal terms with top Afghan leaders. He played pivotal role in introducing Afghan jehad to foreign world and gaining countrywide favour for the movement.

Within the country, Qazi Hussain Ahmad remains continuously in movement undertaking ceaseless campaign of mass awareness, mobilization and party organization. His patronage of organizations like Pasban and subsequently the formation of Shabab-e-Milli is an open expression of his deep concern for the poor and the oppressed.

He was Secretary General of the Muttahida Shariat Mahaz (1986). He is also the Central President of seized Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal.

In 1997 Qazi launched a nationwide campaign to expand the party membership. His open membership campaign brought 4.5 million new members to the Jamaat.

Politics

Ahmad's affiliation with the Islamic movement started in his school days when he joined Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba, a Muslim youth group. He became member of Jamaat-e-Islami in 1970 and was elected to the office of president of its Peshawar branch. He served Jamaat-e-Islami as secretary and then Emir of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. He was raised to the office of Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami in 1978 and after elected as Emir of Jamaat-e-Islami in 1987, continues to serve in that capacity, getting re-elected thrice (1992, 1994, 1999).

Hussain Ahmad was first elected as member of the Senate of Pakistan in 1986 for a term of six years. Within Pakistan, he is a patron of organizations such as Pasban and founder of Shabab e Milli. He was Secretary General of the Muttahida Shariat Mahaz (1986).

He stepped down as leader of Jamaat-e-islam in 2010 and retired.

References

See also

Party political offices
Preceded by
Mian Tufail Mohammad
Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami
1987-2009
Succeeded by
Syed Munawar Hasan