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Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Hussain Qureshi (Urdu: مخدوم شاہ محمود حسین قریشی; born 22 June 1956) is a Pakistani politician who served as the 29th Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2018 to 2022. He previously held the post from 2008 to 2011. He had been a member of the National Assembly from August 2018 till January 2023. He is the vice chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf political party since December 2011.[3][4]
Previously, he was a member of the National Assembly from 2002 to May 2018.
Qureshi was born on 22 June 1956[5][6] in Multan, Punjab to a wealthy, political and prominent MakhdoomQureshi family.[citation needed] His family is of saintly lineage and caretakers of the Shrine of Bahauddin Zakariya in Multan, which provides the family with substantial income, as well votes during the elections.[7][8] However, in 2014, he rejected the claims saying "I have never used religion for political gain. I have never dragged devotees of Sufi saints in political matters, and those who vote for me do it of their free will." after his brother accused Qureshi was using the names of Sufi saints for political gains and Qureshi using donations for the PTI.[8][7]
Qureshi is married and he is a father of one son, named Zain Hussain Qureshi and two daughters.[1] Qureshi is an agriculturalist and was the president of the Farmers Association of Pakistan.[1]
Qureshi later joined the faction of PML led by Nawaz Sharif, which would later become PML (N). When PML split in 1988 after the death of Zia-ul-Haq[10], and was re-elected for the second time to the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab from Multan in 1988 Pakistani general election and served as the Minister of Planning and Development in the provincial cabinet of Punjab of then Chief Minister of Punjab Nawaz Sharif from November 1988 to August 1990.[9][1][10][2]
In 1993 he joined the Pakistan People's Party. Qureshi was elected for the first time to the National Assembly of Pakistan from Multan as a candidate of PPP in 1993 Pakistani general election. He was appointed as Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs under then Prime Minister of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto ministry. In November, 1996, he was appointed as the spokesman of PPP.[1][10][2]
Qureshi served as the District Nazim (mayor) of Multan from 2000 to 2002.[10] During his mayor period, he well administrated the Multan district and oversaw a number of development projects.[2]
He was re-elected for the second time to the National Assembly of Pakistan from Multan in 2002 Pakistani general election on PPP seat and defeated Makhdoom Javed Hashmi.[10] Reportedly, he used his influence as a mayor of Multan to win the 2002 elections.[2] In 2006, Benazir Bhutto appointed Qureshi as the President of Pakistan Peoples Party Punjab[1][10] to revive the popularity of PPP in southern Punjab given his good experience.[11] Reportedly, Qureshi slapped an officer for beating a party activist of PPP in 2006.[1]
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 neighbouring India were amongst his top priorities.[13] Qureshi went on his first visit as foreign minister to China in October 2008 with then Defence Minister of Pakistan Ahmad Mukhtar and then President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari.[14]
In 2011, 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 Senator John Kerry[15]
In February 2011, the Government of Pakistan reduced the number of cabinet seats[16] and during the transition, 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."[17]
In November 2011, Qureshi resigned from the PPP where he had been for the past 20 years. He also quit his National Assembly membership[10] saying that "I had joined the PPP under Benazir Bhutto’s leadership, and PPP was no longer a party of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto; it is now Zardari league. He said he did not want to be a part of Zardari league and announced to resign from the party membership."[19][20]
Qureshi is one of three prominent politicians from Multan District, the other two being the Yousaf Raza Gillani and Javed Hashmi (Multan II) and are considered political rivals to each other.[21] It was reported that Qureshi would re-join PML-N.[21]
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
In late November 2011, Qureshi announced joining the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) at a rally in Ghotki.[10][22][23][24][25] On 4 December 2011, he was appointed as the first Vice Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf[26][27] as its parliamentary leader in National Assembly of Pakistan.[28] In 2016 intra-party elections, Qureshi was re-appointed as the Vice Chairman of PTI, which is considered one of the three senior most positions in the party.[29] He was re-elected to the National Assembly from Multan in 2013 Pakistani general election on the ticket of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.[27]
He was re-elected to the National Assembly as a candidate of PTI from Constituency NA-156 (Multan-III) in 2018 Pakistani general election.[30] Following his successful election, he emerged as PTI's nominee for the office of Speaker of the National Assembly. Reportedly, Imran Khan convinced him to take the office because of his long parliamentary experience. However, Qureshi showed reluctance to take the portfolio.[31]
On 18 August, Imran Khan formally announced his federal cabinet structure and Qureshi was named as Minister for Foreign Affairs.[32] On 20 August 2018, he was sworn in as Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs in the federal cabinet of Prime Minister Imran Khan.[33]
On May 21, 2021, while he was in New York City at an emergency session held by the United Nations General Assembly on 20 May to discuss a response to the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis,[34] Qureshi conducted an interview with American journalist Bianna Golodryga on CNN. During the interview, Qureshi stated: "Israel is losing out. They're losing the media war despite their connections"; Golodryga asked, "What are their connections?"; to which Qureshi replied, "Deep pockets." before elaborating further: "Well, they are very influential people. I mean, they control media."[35] Golodryga responded, "I would call that an antisemitic remark," and the comment sparked controversy and a public discussion of Jewish stereotypes. [35][36][37][38]
Personal life
On 3 July 2020, Qureshi announced he had tested positive for COVID-19 days after holding high-profile meetings including one with U.S. special representative on Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad in Islamabad.[39][40] He eventually recovered.
^"Detail Information". 21 April 2014. Archived from the original on 21 April 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^ ab"Qureshi wins NA-150". The Nation. 13 May 2013. Archived from the original on 13 May 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2017.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)