JI former Emir Munawar Hassan passed away.

LAHORE -- Jamaat-e-Islami former Emir Syed Munawar Hassan has died at the age of 79. The fiery orator, who left deep mark on country's politics as a student leader during late 1950s and 60s and later as head of the JI from 2009 to 2013, breathed his last on Friday noon at a local hospital in Karachi where he had been admitted a three weeks ago, according to a press release issued from Mansoora.

He had been suffering from a respiratory illness for few days, a condition that was complicated by Parkinson's disease. His funeral prayer will be held after Zuhar prayer in Nazimabad Eid Gah Ground Karachi.

JI Emir Senator Sirajul Haq, Secretary General Amirul Azeem, Deputy Emirs Liaqat Baloch, Dr Farid Paracha, Rashid Nasim, Asadullah Bhutto, Dr Mirajul Huda Siddiqui and all other leaders and workers have expressed deep grief over the demise of their leader and fatherly figure.

The top leadership of the PTI, the PML-N, the PPP, the JUI-F and other political and religious parties also sent condolence messages on the demise of Syed Munawar. The JI headquarters Mansoora received condolence messages from the people of different walks of life from all over the country and abroad who paid tribute to the religious and nationalistic services of the late leader.

'His (Syed Munawar Hassan) death caused an irreparable loss to the Muslim world. The country has been deprived of a sincere leadership,' said Senator Sirajul Haq.

While serving as JI chief, Syed Munawar made his unique recognition among Islamic movements of the world and later he led 'Go America Go' historic movement during the tenure of former Military dictator Parvez Musharraf, making the slogan popular all over the country.

Syed Munwar, who was younger from all his brothers and sisters, was born in a Delhi's highly qualified and well-off family on August 5, 1941. His family migrated to Pakistan in 1947 and settled in Karachi. Having inbuilt leadership qualities, he started participation in debate competitions during his schools days and joined the left wing National Student Federation (NSF) upon getting admission in Government College Nazimabad.

He was serving as NSF Karachi chapter president when on request of some leaders of Islami Jamiat Talab, he started reading the Jamaat-e-Islami's founder and then Emir Syed Abual Aaali Maududi's literature. Getting influence from Maulana Maududi's...