KARACHI: Former president Mamnoon Hussain passed away at the age of 81 in Karachi on Wednesday.
He was suffering from cancer and was undergoing treatment at a private hospital for the last two weeks, his son said.
Hussain was the 12th president, who served from 2013 to 2018. He was one of the senior leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.
Originally a businessman, Hussain started his political career from the platform of the Muslim League in 1969. At the time, he was made the joint secretary of the Karachi chapter of the league when former minister of state for foreign affairs Zain Noorani was its president.
He had earned an MBA degree from the Institute of Business Administration in Karachi.
Hussain had been actively involved in the PML-N since 1993 when its chief Nawaz Sharif was in the opposition. Before his appointment as the governor of Sindh by then-prime minister Sharif in 1999, a position he kept for less than six months, he worked as an advisor to the chief minister Liaquat Ali Jatoi.
After the promulgation of military rule in October 1999, Hussain firmly stood with Sharif at a time when multitudes of party leaders jumped ship.
Following the news of Hussain’s demise, condolences from the PML-N, other opposition parties, and government leaders started pouring in.
President Dr Arif Alvi expressed his condolences over the demise of his predecessor and said that he was deeply saddened by the news.
I would like to express my heartfelt & deep condolences on the sad demise of former President of Pakistan, Mr Mamnoon Hussain.
اننا لله وانا اليه راجعون
I had been worried about his health & had talked to his son only a few days ago.
May his soul rest in peace.— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) July 14, 2021
PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif said he was “shocked and grieved”.
“What an epitome of grace, humility & nobility he was! Pakistan has lost a great public servant and PMLN an elderly statesman. My heartfelt condolences go to his family!,” he tweeted.
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
Pakistan Peoples Party Senator Murtaza Wahab also offered condolences. “Heard about the sad news of the death of president Mamnoon Hussain. He served his office with grace and dignity. May Allah SWT bless his soul and give strength to the bereaved family,” he wrote.
Heard about the sad news of the death of President Mamnoon Hussain. He served his office with grace & dignity. May Allah SWT bless his soul & give strength to the bereaved family
— Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui (@murtazawahab1) July 14, 2021
“May ALLAH SWT rest Mamnoon Hussain […] sab’s soul in peace and give his family and friends enough strength to cope with this huge loss,” tweeted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Senator Faisal Javed Khan.
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
Jamat-i-Islami chief Sirajul Haq offered a prayer for the departed soul. “I am deeply saddened to hear of the demise of former president Mamnoon Hussain. To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return. May Allah forgive him and grant patience to his family. Ameen.”
Muttahida Qaumi Movement Senator Faisal Subzwari and ruling MP Sher Ali Arbab, and several other politicians also expressed their condolences.
