Shah Mehmood Qureshi
Encyclopedia
Makhdoom
Shah Mehmood Hussain Qureshi is well-known Politician in Pakistan
. He was the Foreign Minister of Pakistan
in the coalition government of PPP
, Muttahida Quami Movement[MQM], ANP
and JUI-F
formed after the 2008 general elections. He was a senior leader of Pakistan Peoples Party
, where he was the president of PPP Punjab
. However in February 2011 Qureshi fell out with the senior PPP leadaership and by Novebmer he joined Imran Khan Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
. He is the head of the Qureshi family and has many followers in the country and in South Asia
. Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi is also the current Sajjada Nashin
and custodian of the Mausoleum of Shah Rukn-e-Alam
and of the Shrine
(Darbar) of Hazrat Baha-ud-din Zakariya
.. An agriculturalist by trade, Qureshi is also the president of the Farmers Association of Pakistan.
. He was the eldest son of Makhdoom Sajjad Hussain Qureshi. Sajjad Qureshi was a Sajjada Nashin
for Mausoleum of Shah Rukn-e-Alam
and the Darbar of Hazrat Baha-ud-din Zakariya
. The elder Qureshi was also a prominent politician of the Pakistan People's Party under Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
in the 1970s. Following the removal and hanging of Bhutto, Sajjad Hussain supported the presidency of General Zia-ul-Haq and served as the Governor of Punjab from December 1985 to December 1988 under Zia.
, Lahore
. He received a Bachelor's degree in History from Forman Christian College
. Qureshi also received a law degree from Cambridge University
from Multan
in 1985, which were held on a non-party basis. He joined the Pakistan Muslim League (PML) under the leadership of Muhammad Khan Junejo
in 1986.
He joined the faction of PML led by Nawaz Sharif
, which later became PML (N)
, when PML split in 1988 after the death of Zia-ul-Haq. He was re-elected to the Punjab Assembly from Multan in 1988. He served as the Minister of Planning and Development in the cabinet of Chief Minister Nawaz Sharif from November 1988 to August 1990.
Qureshi parted ways with Nawaz Sharif in 1990 and joined the PML (J)
faction led by Manzoor Wattoo, and was re-elected to the Punjab Assembly from Multan in 1990. He served as the Minister of Finance in the Punjab cabinet under Chief Minister Watoo from 1990 to June 1993.
He subsequently joined the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) in 1993 under the leadership of Benazir Bhutto
. He was elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan
from Multan in the general elections of 1993
, and served as the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs under Prime Minister Bhutto. Qureshi was defeated in the 1997 general election
by Makhdoom Javed Hashmi
.
Qureshi served as the District Nazim of Multan from 2000 to 2002. He won subsequent elections to the National Assembly from Multan in 2002 and 2008 as a member of the PPP. Benazir Bhutto made Qureshi the President of PPP in Punjab in 2006.
Following the general election of 2008
, Qureshi was a potential candidate for the Prime Minister of Pakistan
in the coalition government headed by the PPP. However, given his political history prior to joining the PPP, Qureshi was instead given the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs in the cabinet of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani
. He lost the portfolio of Foreign Minister in February 2011, following the Raymond Davis affair
. Qureshi opposed the PPP's pact with PML-Q, since he believed PML-Q to be indirectly involved in the killing of Benazir Bhutto
.
Qureshi resigned from the PPP, as well as his National Assembly membership, in November 2011. He has been in contact with both Pakistan Muslim League (N)
and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
to join one of these parties. In a TV talk show Imran Khan
confirmed that Shah Mehmood Qureshi would join the PTI rally on 27th November 2011 at Ghotki
.
were amongst his top priorities. Qureshi went on his first visit as foreign minister to China in October 2008 with Ahmad Mukhtar and President Asif Ali Zardari
. On his arrival back, he was given praise for his work. Qureshi has visited many countries as Foreign Minister and has been very busy explaining Pakistan's stance on the war on terror to the foreign world.
In 2009, Shah Mehmood Qureshi faced criticism in Pakistan when it was discovered that his son, Zain H. Qureshi, was working as a Legislative Fellow in the office of Sen. John Kerry
In February 2011, the Government of Pakistan reduced the number of cabinet seats. During this transition, Shah Mehmood Qureshi was offered the position of Minister of Water and Power. He declined, saying that he was "not interested in water and power ministry in place of foreign affairs."
affair where Davis' was released without charge for murdering two men in Lahore. Shah Mehmood Qureshi was given another ministry on which issue he subsequently resigned as Federal Minister of Pakistan . On 27th November, 2011 Qureshi announced his joining of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
in a rally in Ghotki,Sindh, 400 km south of Punjab city of Multan.
. On 27th November, 2011 Qureshi announced his joining of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in a rally in Ghotki,Sindh, 400 km south of Punjab city of Multan.He appointed as Senior Vice Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
.President(Southern Punjab) of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
.
The cause behind joining PTI is Revolution in Pakistan.
Makhdoom
Makhdoom , is a meaning of in Urdu Muslim Sufi title in South Asia and Central Asia.This title is now used by the descendents of the Sufi masters who are mostly Pirs, politicians and landlords in southern Punjab and Sindh in Pakistan....
Shah Mehmood Hussain Qureshi is well-known Politician in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. He was the Foreign Minister of Pakistan
Foreign Minister of Pakistan
The Foreign Minister of Pakistan heads the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The current Foreign Minister is Hina Rabbani Khar who took office as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs on 11 February 2011, and as full Minister of Foreign Affairs on 20 July, 2011...
in the coalition government of PPP
Pakistan Peoples Party
The Pakistan Peoples Party , is a democratic socialist political party in Pakistan affiliated with Socialist International. Pakistan People's Party is the largest political party of Pakistan...
, Muttahida Quami Movement[MQM], ANP
Awami National Party
The Awami National Party is an Pashtun nationalist, socialist, centre-left political party in Pakistan affiliated with Socialist International...
and JUI-F
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam
The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam is a political party in Pakistan. It formed a combined government in national elections in 2002 and 2008...
formed after the 2008 general elections. He was a senior leader of Pakistan Peoples Party
Pakistan Peoples Party
The Pakistan Peoples Party , is a democratic socialist political party in Pakistan affiliated with Socialist International. Pakistan People's Party is the largest political party of Pakistan...
, where he was the president of PPP Punjab
Punjab (Pakistan)
Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population. Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the...
. However in February 2011 Qureshi fell out with the senior PPP leadaership and by Novebmer he joined Imran Khan Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is "Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem".-Founding:...
. He is the head of the Qureshi family and has many followers in the country and in South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
. Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi is also the current Sajjada Nashin
Sajjada nashin
The Sajjada Nashin is the descendant of a Sufi Pir or descendant of a disciple of a Pir, who tends to the shrine which is erected over the Pir's tomb or grave, known as a Dargah or Mazar....
and custodian of the Mausoleum of Shah Rukn-e-Alam
Rukn-e-Alam
Sheikh Rukn-ud-Din Abul Fath commonly known by the title Rukn-e-Alam commonly called Shah Rukne Alam was among the eminent Sufi saints from Multan, Pakistan....
and of the Shrine
Shrine
A shrine is a holy or sacred place, which is dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint, daemon or similar figure of awe and respect, at which they are venerated or worshipped. Shrines often contain idols, relics, or other such objects associated with the figure being venerated....
(Darbar) of Hazrat Baha-ud-din Zakariya
Baha-ud-din Zakariya
Baha-ud-din Zakariya was a Sufi of Suhrawardiyya order . His full name was Al-Sheikh Al-Kabir Sheikh-ul-Islam Baha-ud-Din Abu Muhammad Zakaria Al-Qureshi Al-Asadi Al Hashmi....
.. An agriculturalist by trade, Qureshi is also the president of the Farmers Association of Pakistan.
Family
Qureshi hails from a prominent religious and political family in South PunjabSouth Punjab
South Punjab is the southernmost region of Pakistan's Punjab province. The districts of Bahawalpur, Multan, Rahim Yar Khan and D. G. Khan are geographically regarded as components of the region...
. He was the eldest son of Makhdoom Sajjad Hussain Qureshi. Sajjad Qureshi was a Sajjada Nashin
Sajjada nashin
The Sajjada Nashin is the descendant of a Sufi Pir or descendant of a disciple of a Pir, who tends to the shrine which is erected over the Pir's tomb or grave, known as a Dargah or Mazar....
for Mausoleum of Shah Rukn-e-Alam
Rukn-e-Alam
Sheikh Rukn-ud-Din Abul Fath commonly known by the title Rukn-e-Alam commonly called Shah Rukne Alam was among the eminent Sufi saints from Multan, Pakistan....
and the Darbar of Hazrat Baha-ud-din Zakariya
Baha-ud-din Zakariya
Baha-ud-din Zakariya was a Sufi of Suhrawardiyya order . His full name was Al-Sheikh Al-Kabir Sheikh-ul-Islam Baha-ud-Din Abu Muhammad Zakaria Al-Qureshi Al-Asadi Al Hashmi....
. The elder Qureshi was also a prominent politician of the Pakistan People's Party under Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was 9th Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1973 to 1977, and prior to that, 4th President of Pakistan from 1971 to 1973. Bhutto was the founder of the Pakistan Peoples Party — the largest and most influential political party in Pakistan— and served as its chairman until his...
in the 1970s. Following the removal and hanging of Bhutto, Sajjad Hussain supported the presidency of General Zia-ul-Haq and served as the Governor of Punjab from December 1985 to December 1988 under Zia.
Education
Qureshi received his early education from Aitchison CollegeAitchison College
Aitchison College, Lahore, is one of the most prestigious educational institutions of its kind in South Asia. Established in 1886, it has retained its character over the years, maintaining the public school tradition of providing an education that uses academics, sports and co-curricular activities...
, Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
. He received a Bachelor's degree in History from Forman Christian College
Forman Christian College
Forman Christian College University, or FCCU, is a chartered university in Lahore, Pakistan, named after its American-born founder, Dr. Charles William Forman.- History :...
. Qureshi also received a law degree from Cambridge University
Political career
Qureshi was first elected to the Provincial Assembly of the PunjabProvincial Assembly of the Punjab
The Provincial Assembly of the Punjab is a unicameral legislature of elected representatives of the province of Punjab, which is located in Lahore in eastern Pakistan...
from Multan
Multan
Multan , is a city in the Punjab Province of Pakistan and capital of Multan District. It is located in the southern part of the province on the east bank of the Chenab River, more or less in the geographic centre of the country and about from Islamabad, from Lahore and from Karachi...
in 1985, which were held on a non-party basis. He joined the Pakistan Muslim League (PML) under the leadership of Muhammad Khan Junejo
Muhammad Khan Junejo
Muhammad Khan Junejo was the tenth Prime Minister of Pakistan.-Early life:He was born at Sindhri in Tharparkar of Sindh. He belongs to Sindhi Muslim Rajput family of Junejo clan. Junejo started his political career at the age of twenty one...
in 1986.
He joined the faction of PML led by Nawaz Sharif
Nawaz Sharif
Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif is a Pakistani conservative politician and steel magnate who served as 12th Prime Minister of Pakistan in two non-consecutive terms from November 1990 to July 1993, and from February 1997 to October 12, 1999...
, which later became PML (N)
Pakistan Muslim League (N)
The Pakistan Muslim League is a conservative political party in Pakistan, affiliated with Western conservatism...
, when PML split in 1988 after the death of Zia-ul-Haq. He was re-elected to the Punjab Assembly from Multan in 1988. He served as the Minister of Planning and Development in the cabinet of Chief Minister Nawaz Sharif from November 1988 to August 1990.
Qureshi parted ways with Nawaz Sharif in 1990 and joined the PML (J)
Pakistan Muslim League (J)
The Pakistan Muslim League was a political party in Pakistan established in 1993. It merged with PML-Q in 2004.It is one of the factions of the original Pakistan Muslim League, named "J" after Junejo...
faction led by Manzoor Wattoo, and was re-elected to the Punjab Assembly from Multan in 1990. He served as the Minister of Finance in the Punjab cabinet under Chief Minister Watoo from 1990 to June 1993.
He subsequently joined the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) in 1993 under the leadership of Benazir Bhutto
Benazir Bhutto
Benazir Bhutto was a democratic socialist who served as the 11th Prime Minister of Pakistan in two non-consecutive terms from 1988 until 1990 and 1993 until 1996....
. He was elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan
National Assembly of Pakistan
The National Assembly of Pakistan is the lower house of the bicameral Majlis-e-Shura, which also compromises the President of Pakistan and Senate . The National Assembly and the Senate both convene at Parliament House in Islamabad...
from Multan in the general elections of 1993
Pakistani general election, 1993
General elections were held in Pakistan on 6 October 1993. The election took place after both the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Ghulam Ishaq Khan resigned to resolve a power struggle between them. Although the Pakistan Muslim League won the largest number of votes, the Pakistan Peoples...
, and served as the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs under Prime Minister Bhutto. Qureshi was defeated in the 1997 general election
Pakistani general election, 1997
A general election was held in Pakistan on 3 February 1997 to elect the National Assembly of Pakistan and the four provincial assemblies. The election took place after the previous Pakistan Peoples Party government of Benazir Bhutto was dismissed by President Farooq Leghari for alleged corruption...
by Makhdoom Javed Hashmi
Javed Hashmi
Makhdoom Muhammad Javed Hashmi is a Pakistani political scientist, geostrategist, statesman, and the central public figure of the PML...
.
Qureshi served as the District Nazim of Multan from 2000 to 2002. He won subsequent elections to the National Assembly from Multan in 2002 and 2008 as a member of the PPP. Benazir Bhutto made Qureshi the President of PPP in Punjab in 2006.
Following the general election of 2008
Pakistani general election, 2008
A general election was held in Pakistan on 18 February 2008, after being postponed from 8 January 2008. The original date was intended to elect members of the National Assembly of Pakistan, the lower house of the Majlis-e-Shoora...
, Qureshi was a potential candidate for the Prime Minister of Pakistan
Prime Minister of Pakistan
The Prime Minister of Pakistan , is the Head of Government of Pakistan who is designated to exercise as the country's Chief Executive. By the Constitution of Pakistan, Pakistan has the parliamentary democratic system of government...
in the coalition government headed by the PPP. However, given his political history prior to joining the PPP, Qureshi was instead given the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs in the cabinet of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani
Yousaf Raza Gillani
Yousuf Raza Gilani is the current prime minister of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. He was nominated as Prime Minister by the PPP, with the support of its coalition partners, Pakistan Muslim League , Awami National Party, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam and Muttahida Qaumi Movement, on 22 March 2008...
. He lost the portfolio of Foreign Minister in February 2011, following the Raymond Davis affair
Raymond Allen Davis incident
Raymond Allen Davis is a former United States Army soldier, private security firm employee, and contractor with the Central Intelligence Agency . On January 27, 2011, Davis killed two reportedly armed men in Lahore, Pakistan. Although the U.S. government contended that he was protected by...
. Qureshi opposed the PPP's pact with PML-Q, since he believed PML-Q to be indirectly involved in the killing of Benazir Bhutto
Benazir Bhutto
Benazir Bhutto was a democratic socialist who served as the 11th Prime Minister of Pakistan in two non-consecutive terms from 1988 until 1990 and 1993 until 1996....
.
Qureshi resigned from the PPP, as well as his National Assembly membership, in November 2011. He has been in contact with both Pakistan Muslim League (N)
Pakistan Muslim League (N)
The Pakistan Muslim League is a conservative political party in Pakistan, affiliated with Western conservatism...
and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is "Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem".-Founding:...
to join one of these parties. In a TV talk show Imran Khan
Imran Khan
Imran Khan Niazi is a Pakistani politician and former Pakistani cricketer, playing international cricket for two decades in the late twentieth century. After retiring, he entered politics...
confirmed that Shah Mehmood Qureshi would join the PTI rally on 27th November 2011 at Ghotki
Ghotki
Ghotki Ghotki is the capital of Ghotki District in northern Sindh, Pakistan. It was the site of the July 13, 2005, Ghotki rail crash. The town is located at 28°1'0N 69°19'0E with an altitude of 72 metres ....
.
Minister of Foreign Affairs (2008 - 2011)
After taking charge of the office, Qureshi immediately made clear that he was committed to establishing peace in the region and that maintaining friendly ties with neighboring IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
were amongst his top priorities. Qureshi went on his first visit as foreign minister to China in October 2008 with Ahmad Mukhtar and President Asif Ali Zardari
Asif Ali Zardari
Asif Ali Zardari is the 11th and current President of Pakistan and the Co-Chairman of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party . He is also the widower of Benazir Bhutto, who served two nonconsecutive terms as Prime Minister....
. On his arrival back, he was given praise for his work. Qureshi has visited many countries as Foreign Minister and has been very busy explaining Pakistan's stance on the war on terror to the foreign world.
In 2009, Shah Mehmood Qureshi faced criticism in Pakistan when it was discovered that his son, Zain H. Qureshi, was working as a Legislative Fellow in the office of Sen. John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
In February 2011, the Government of Pakistan reduced the number of cabinet seats. During this transition, Shah Mehmood Qureshi was offered the position of Minister of Water and Power. He declined, saying that he was "not interested in water and power ministry in place of foreign affairs."
Joining Pakistan Tehreek-e Insaf
Following the Raymond DavisRaymond Davis
Raymond Davis may refer to:* Raymond Davis Jr. , American physicist and chemist* Ray Davis , member of The Parliaments, Parliament, Funkadelic, and The Temptations...
affair where Davis' was released without charge for murdering two men in Lahore. Shah Mehmood Qureshi was given another ministry on which issue he subsequently resigned as Federal Minister of Pakistan . On 27th November, 2011 Qureshi announced his joining of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is "Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem".-Founding:...
in a rally in Ghotki,Sindh, 400 km south of Punjab city of Multan.
. On 27th November, 2011 Qureshi announced his joining of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in a rally in Ghotki,Sindh, 400 km south of Punjab city of Multan.He appointed as Senior Vice Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is "Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem".-Founding:...
.President(Southern Punjab) of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is "Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem".-Founding:...
.
The cause behind joining PTI is Revolution in Pakistan.