Hafiz Abdul Kareem
Pakistani politician (born 1960)
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Hafiz Abdul Kareem[a] (born 1 January 1960) is a Pakistani politician, Doctor and Islamic scholar who serves as the third and current emir of Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadith since 2025 replacing Sajid Mir upon his death. He has been a member of the Senate of Pakistan since March 2018.
Hafiz Abdul Kareem | |
|---|---|
| حافظ عبدالکریم | |
| 3rd Emir of Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadith | |
| Assumed office 25 May 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Sajid Mir |
| Ministry of Communications (Pakistan) | |
| In office 4 August 2017 – 31 May 2018 | |
| President | Mamnoon Hussain |
| Prime Minister | Shahid Khaqan Abbasi |
| Member of the Senate of Pakistan | |
| Assumed office 26 May 2025 | |
| Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan | |
| In office 1 June 2013 – 31 May 2018 | |
| Constituency | NA-172 (D.G.Khan-II) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 1, 1960 |
| Party | MJAH (2006-present) |
Other political affiliations | PMLN (2008-2018) |
Abdul Kareem served as Minister for Communications, in Abbasi cabinet from August 2017 to May 2018. He was also a Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan from June 2013 to 2018.
Early life and education
Kareem was born on 1 January 1960. He has completed matriculation level education.[1]
Political career
He ran for the seat of the National Assembly of Pakistan as a candidate of Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N) from Constituency NA-172 (Dera Ghazi Khan-II) in 2008 Pakistani general election, but was unsuccessful.[2][3][4] He received 41,894 votes and lost to Farooq Leghari.[5]
He ran for the seat of the National Assembly as a candidate of PML-N from Constituency NA-172 (Dera Ghazi Khan-II) in by-election held in March 2011, but was unsuccessful.[6][7] He received 41,894 votes and lost the seat to Awais Leghari.[8]
He was elected to the National Assembly as a candidate of PML-N from Constituency NA-172 (Dera Ghazi Khan-II) in 2013 Pakistani general election.[9] He received 49,230 votes and defeated Jamal Leghari.[10]
Following the election of Shahid Khaqan Abbasi as Prime Minister of Pakistan in August 2017, he was inducted into the federal cabinet of Abbasi[11][12] and was appointed federal minister for Communications for the first time.[13][14]
He was nominated by PML-N as its candidate in the 2018 Pakistani Senate election.[15] However the Election Commission of Pakistan declared all PML-N candidates for the Senate election as independent after a ruling of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.[16]
He was elected to the Senate of Pakistan as an independent candidate on a technocrat seat from Punjab in Senate election.[17][18] He was backed in the election by PML-N[19] and joined the treasury benches, led by PML-N after getting elected.[20] He took oath as a Senator on 12 March 2018.[21] On 12 March 2018, he ceased to hold the office of Federal Minister for Communications due to resignation from the National Assembly.[22] On 15 March 2018, he was re-inducted into the federal cabinet of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi[23] and re-appointed Federal Minister for Communications.[24] Upon the dissolution of the National Assembly on the expiration of its term on 31 May 2018, Kareem ceased to hold the office as Federal Minister for Communications.[25]