Munawar Hasan

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Syed Munawar Hassan (Urdu: سید منور حسن ‎) (born August 1944, Delhi) is a politician and the current Ameer (President) of Jamaat-e-Islami, Pakistan, main Islamist party in the country.

Early life and education

Hassan was born in Delhi, British India in August 1944. At the time of the Partition of India, he migrated with his family and settled in Karachi. He obtained a Master's in Sociology (1963) and in Islamic Studies (1966) from the University of Karachi.^[1]

History

Hassan joined the National Students Federation (NSF) - a student body with a communist ideology- and was elected its President in 1959. The real change appeared in his life when he got a chance to come closer to the activists of Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba (IJT) Pakistan and studied the writings of Mawlana Syed Abul Ala Maududi. As a result, he joined IJT in 1960, became its member and soon he was elected as President of its University of Karachi Unit, Karachi City Unit and member of the Central Executive Council. Later, he reached its top slot and became all-Pakistan President in 1964 and served in that capacity for three consecutive terms. During his tenure of the President, the Jamiat organized several campaigns mobilizing public opinion regarding education problems, system of education, women education etc. etc.

He joined the Islamic Research Academy (IRAK) and later Islamic Jerusalem Studies, at Karachi as a Research Assistant in 1963 and raised to its Secretary Generalship in 1969. Under his supervision, the Academy published 70 scholarly books. He also rendered services as Managing Editor of the Monthly The Criterion and The Universal Message, Karachi.

Syed Munawar 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 also elected to the Central Shura and the Executive Council of the Jama’at. He represented Jama’at at several platforms, including United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Pakistan National Alliance (PNA). Contesting National Assembly election in 1977, he secured the highest votes in Pakistan. He was Assistant Secretary General of Jama’at-e-Islami Pakistan in 1992-93, and became Secretary General in 1993.

He took part in a number of international conferences and seminars and has visited USA, UK, Canada, Central Asia, Middle East, North Africa and many countries of the Southeast Asia.

Syed Munawar Hasan is well versed in English. Many of his speeches, mostly in Urdu, are also available in cassette form. He heads a number of planning and research bodies within the Jamaat.

Controversy

In an interview to a private TV channel, he called slain TTP Chief Hakimullah Mehsud, a 'Martyr' who was killed in an American drone strike. Further more he had raised a question that if an American who died on the battlefield was not a martyr, then how his backers could be martyrs? because they were chasing the same goal, he further said that he will ask the same question from scholars too. This was implicitly directed towards the Pakistan Army.^[2] This prompted criticism from different circles, political, religious, civil society as well as from military. Sindh Assembly on 11-November-2013, passed a resolution condemning Munawar's statement.^[3] ISPR has also issued their concerns criticizing the statement, in a statement released by the ISPR spokesperson Asim Bajwa said, “Syed Munawar Hassan has tried to invent a logic based on his political convenience. Strong condemnation of his views from an overwhelming majority leaves no doubt in any one’s mind that all of us are very clear on what the state of Pakistan is and who are its enemies. The families of martyred army personnel and people who had lost their loved ones in the terrorist attacks demanded an “unconditional apology” from JI chief.” ^[4]

Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan however has said the statement of their chief reflects his personal view and it is not their official party stand.

Munawar defending his statement however said that his statement regarding the Pakistan Army is correct according to Sharia Law.^[5]

References

External links

Party political offices
Preceded by Qazi Hussain Ahmad	Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami 2009-2013	Succeeded by

Persondata
Name	Hassan, Syed Munawar
Alternative names
Short description	Politician
Date of birth	1944
Place of birth	Delhi
Date of death
Place of death

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