Former president Mamnoon Hussain passes away in Karachi

His son says ex-president was receiving medical treatment for cancer at a private hospital for the last two weeks

Former president of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain has passed away at a private hospital in Karachi, his family confirmed on Tuesday night. He was 80 years old.

Arsalan Mamnoon, his son, told the media that his father had been hospitalised for the last two weeks to receive medical treatment for cancer.

Funeral prayer of the former president will be offered at Sultan Masjid in Karachi’s DHA Phase-V on Thursday (today) after Asr prayer, according to PML-N Sindh information secretary Khawaja Tariq Nazir.

Subsequently, the burial will be held at DHA Phase-VIII graveyard.

He served as the president of the country from 2013 to 2018.

Hussain, a prominent politician belonging to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), was first appointed as Sindh governor prior to 1999’s military coup d'état.

As a president of the country, he maintained a low-key profile and his role was rarely seen in the nation’s politics.

Read more: Mamnoon Hussain: A man of principles

Condolences poured in soon after the news broke out on social media.

President Dr Arif Alvi and Sindh Governor Imran Ismail expressed deep grief over the sad demise.

صدر مملکت ڈاکٹر عارف علوی کا سابق صدر ممنون حسین کے انتقال پر اظہار افسوس

صدر مملکت کا سابق صدر ممنون حسین کے انتقال پر گہرے رنج وغم کا اظہار

— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) July 14, 2021

My deepest condolences on the passing of former President of Pakistan, Mamnoon Hussain. May Allah grant his family the strength to bear this great loss.

— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) July 14, 2021

اِنَّا لِلّٰہِ وَاِنَّا اِلَیْہِ رَاجِعُوْنَ۔
سابق صدرِ پاکستان ممنون حسین کےانتقال کا سن کر افسردہ ہوں۔ملک کے لیے ان کی خدمات کو ہمیشہ یاد رکھا جائے گا۔ اللہ تعالیٰ مرحوم کے درجات بلند فرمائے اور سوگواران کو اس ناقابل تلافی نقصان کو برداشت کرنے کے لیے صبرِ جمیل عطاء فرمائے۔ آمین pic.twitter.com/A8214JcEnF

— Asad Qaiser (@AsadQaiserPTI) July 14, 2021

اللہ تعالی سابق صدر پاکستان ممنون حسین کی مغفرت فرمائے اور ان کے اہل خانہ اور عزیز و اقارب کو صبر جمیل عطا فرمائے - آمین
May ALLAH rest (former President of Pakistan) Mamnoon Hussain sab's soul in peace and give his family and friends enough strength to cope with this huge loss.

— Faisal Javed Khan (@FaisalJavedKhan) July 14, 2021

While offering heartfelt condolences on the sad demise, army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa said, “May Allah bless his soul & give strength to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss, Ameen.”

General Qamar Javed Bajwa, #COAS, expresses heartfelt condolences on the sad demise of former President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain. “May Allah bless his soul & give strength to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss, Ameen”, COAS.

— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) July 14, 2021

Expressing his deep shock and grief, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif called the former president an epitome of grace, humility and nobility. “Pakistan has lost a great public servant and PML-N an elderly statesman. My heartfelt condolences go to his family,” he wrote on his official handle.

Deeply shocked and grieved to hear that President Mamnoon Hussain has passed away. What an epitome of grace, humility & nobility he was! Pakistan has lost a great public servant and PMLN an elderly statesman. My hearfelt condolences go to his family!

— Shehbaz Sharif (القدس في العيون) (@CMShehbaz) July 14, 2021

PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz, while offering condolences to Hussain’s family, said he was a sincere man who served Pakistan with utmost sincerity.

سابق صدر پاکستان ممنون حسین صاحب کی وفات پر دِلی افسوس ہوا ہے۔ وہ ایک مخلص شخص تھے جنہوں نے پوری ایمانداری کے ساتھ پاکستان کی خدمت کی۔
اللہ تعالیٰ مرحوم کو جوارِ رحمت میں جگہ عطاء فرمائے۔ آمین pic.twitter.com/Uobq8C1NhI

— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) July 14, 2021

إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ
سابق صدر پاکستان ممنون حسین کی وفات کی خبر سن کر دکھ ہوا، اللہ تعالیٰ سے مرحوم کی مغفرت، بلند درجات اور پسماندگان کے لیے صبرِ جمیل عطاء فرمانے کی دعا ہے۔ pic.twitter.com/oQ5CbR9TlK

— Qasim Khan Suri (@QasimKhanSuri) July 14, 2021

Heartiest Condolences to the family of former President Mamnoon Hussain. May he get the highest rank in Jannah Ameen.

— Pervez Khattak (@PervezKhattakPK) July 14, 2021

PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal said the deceased was a very elegant man whose affiliation with Pakistan and the party was unshakable.

سابق صدر ممنون حسین کے انتقال کی خبر پہ دلی صدمہ ہوا-مرحوم نہایت ہی نفیس انسان تھے جن کی پاکستان اور مسلم لیگ ن سے وابستگی غیر متزلزل تھی- اللہ تعالی ان کے درجات بلند فرمائے اور اہل خانہ کو صبر جمیل عطا فرمائے آمین! pic.twitter.com/zm0OGQWDq7

— Ahsan Iqbal (@betterpakistan) July 14, 2021

A brief profile

Born on December 23, 1940 in Agra, Hussain shifted to Karachi after partition with his father Azhar Hussain and other family members. Schooled in traditional religious education, the president completed his matriculation in 1958 and was awarded a B.Com Honors degree from the Government College of Commerce. Subsequently, he attended the prestigious Institute of Business Administration (IBA) in Karachi, from where he graduated in 1965.

Hussain, who remained associated with the Muslim League from the beginning, was introduced to formal politics by his close friend and mentor Abdul Khaliq Allahwala, a former member of the National Assembly in the 1960s. Quickly making a mark in the League, Hussain rose to become joint secretary of the party in 1967.

In 1999, he was elected as the president of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI) and was soon selected by Nawaz Sharif to become governor of Sindh in June 1999. However, Hussain’s stint as governor ended abruptly after less than six months, when the Nawaz government was overthrown by the then military chief Pervez Mushrraf.

During his political career, Hussain held important portfolios in the party. He remained the provincial general secretary of PML-N and also served as party’s acting provincial president of Sindh chapter. He was PML-N’s central senior vice president and also served as an adviser to Sindh’s ex-chief minister, Liaquat Ali Jatoi.