KARACHI: Former ameer of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan Syed Munawar Hasan breathed his last on Friday at a Karachi hospital, according to a party spokesperson.

He had been undergoing treatment at the hospital for the past few weeks and was recently put on the ventilator after his health condition worsened. He was 78.

Munawar Hasan was born in New Dehli on August 5, 1941. After the partition of India, he migrated with his family and settled in Karachi. He obtained a Master’s degree in sociology in 1963, and in Islamic Studies in 1966 from the University of Karachi.

He joined the National Students Federation, a student group, and was elected its president in 1959.

He became part of Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba in 1960 and was elected president of its University of Karachi unit, Karachi City Unit, and a member of its Central Executive Council. He became its national president in 1964 and served in that capacity for three consecutive terms.

Hasan after his joining Jamaat-e-Islami, later served as assistant secretary, secretary and deputy chief of the JI’s Karachi chapter. His big break came in 2009 when the party elected him as its fourth chief.

In 1977, Hasan secured a seat of the National Assembly with the highest vote tally. He was elected Emir or head of the party in 2009.

In the 2013 general elections, Hasan tendered his resignation after the party’s loss in the polls and took responsibility for the loss, however, the party continued to endorse him and refused to accept his resignation.

In March 2014, he was then replaced by Sirajul Haq ,the incumbent JI chief.

After his death, JI leaders and workers arrived at the hospital where he had breathed his last. No announcement has been made regarding his funeral prayers so far.

President Dr Arif Alvi Friday expressed deep grief over the demise of former former JI chief Syed Munawar Hassan.

According to a President House press release, the president telephoned deceased’s son Talha Munawar and sympathised with the bereaved family. He prayed for peace of the departed soul and for strength to the late Syed Munawar’s family to bear the loss with fortitude.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz on Friday expressed deep grief and sorrow over the sad demise of Syed Munawar Hassan.

In a tweet, the minister said the deceased was a proponent of democracy and a very sophisticated man. He became a powerful voice for the rights of Muslims around the world, said Shibli Faraz. He prayed to Allah Almighty to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved family to bear this loss with fortitude.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif, extending his condolences to the bereaved family, 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.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah 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 as well as Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi expressed sadness over the demise of the JI leader and offered condolences.

In his condolence message, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar said people like Syed Munawar Hasan having a squeaky clean image are the beauty of society. He added the JI leader fostered politics of principles in the country.—NNI