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Shah Mahmood Qureshi (SMQ)
Shah Mahmood Qureshi was born on 22 June 1956 in Multan, Pakistan. Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi is a Pakistani politician who served as Foreign Minister from 2018 to 2022. He is also the Vice Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and has held this post since December 2011. Shah Mahmood Qureshi has been a member of the National Assembly for several terms, from 2002 to 2018 and from 2018 to 2023.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi was born in Multan, Punjab. He received his early education from Aitchison College, Lahore, and his Bachelor of Arts degree from Forman Christian College. He went to the UK for higher education and obtained a Master of Arts degree from Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi began his political career in 1985 when he was elected a member of the Punjab Provincial Assembly in nonpartisan elections. In 1986, he joined the Pakistan Muslim League and served in various positions in the Punjab Provincial Cabinet from 1988 to 1993. In 1993, he was appointed Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs in the Federal Cabinet.
In November 2011, Shah Mahmood Qureshi left the People’s Party and joined Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf. On 4 December 2011, he was appointed Vice Chairman of PTI. In the 2013 general elections, he was elected a member of the National Assembly from Multan on a PTI ticket.
After the 2018 general elections, Qureshi was appointed the Foreign Minister of Imran Khan’s government. During his time in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan participated in many critical diplomatic affairs at the global level. After the fall of the PTI government in 2022, he stepped down as the foreign minister. Shah Mahmood Qureshi continued participating in the 2023 general elections and retained his position in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf internal elections.
Multan, Punjab, Pakistan
| Shah Mahmood Qureshi | |
| Name | Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Hussain Qureshi |
| Urdu | مخدوم شاہ محمود حسین قریشی |
| Date of Birth | 22 June 1956 |
| Birth Place | Multan, Punjab, Pakistan |
| Education |
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| Profession | Politician |
| Political Party | PTI (2011–present) |
| Other Political |
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| Relations |
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| Children | Zain Qureshi |
| Parent | Sajjad Hussain Qureshi (father) |
Early Life and Education
Shah Mahmood Qureshi was born on 22 June 1956 in Multan, Punjab, into a wealthy and politically influential Makhdoom Qureshi family. His family has a spiritual and Sufi background and a prominent political position. The Qureshi family has been getting votes and financial support during election campaigns. However, in 2014, Shah Mahmood Qureshi denied allegations that he used religious influence for political gains.
He said that he does not involve devotees of Sufi saints in political matters and those who vote for him do so of their own free will.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi is fluent in Urdu, English, Punjabi, and Saraiki. His father, Makhdoom Syed Hussain Qureshi, was a senator from 1985 to 1988 and the 15th Governor of Punjab. Shah Mahmood Qureshi received his early education from Aitchison College, Lahore. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Forman Christian College and a Master of Law and History from Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. He also holds a BA degree from Punjab University.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi is married and has a son, Zain Hussain Qureshi, and two daughters. He has also been involved in the agriculture sector and has served as the President of the Pakistan Farmers Association.
Political Career
Shah Mahmood Qureshi was first elected to the Punjab Provincial Assembly from Multan in the 1985 Pakistani general elections, which were held on a non-partisan basis under the military regime of General Zia-ul-Haq. In 1986, he joined the Pakistan Muslim League (PML). Qureshi later became part of the Nawaz Sharif faction of the Muslim League, later known as the Pakistan Muslim League (N).
In 1988, the Muslim League split after the death of General Zia-ul-Haq, and Qureshi again won the Punjab Assembly seat from Multan in the 1988 general elections as the Muslim League (N) candidate. He served as Minister for Planning and Development in the provincial cabinet of Punjab under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif. In the 1990 elections, Qureshi was elected to the Punjab Assembly for the third consecutive term and served as Finance Minister in the Punjab Provincial Cabinet under Manzoor Vito, where he remained until 1993.
Pakistan Muslim League (N)
Shah Mahmood Qureshi later joined the faction of the Muslim League under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif, which later became the Pakistan Muslim League (N). In 1988, when the Muslim League split after the death of Sahib-ul-Haq, Qureshi won a second term for the Punjab Provincial Assembly from Multan. He then held the post of Minister for Planning and Development from November 1988 to August 1990, where he served in Nawaz Sharif’s cabinet.
In the 1990 elections, Qureshi was again elected as the PML(N) candidate from Multan and served as the Finance Minister from 1990 to 1993.
Pakistan People's Party
In 1993, Qureshi joined the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). The same year, he was elected to the National Assembly from Multan as a PPP candidate. He was appointed Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs in the then-Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s cabinet. In November 1996, Qureshi became the PPP spokesperson.
In the 1997 elections, Qureshi was defeated by Muslim League-N’s Javed Hashmi. Later, Qureshi was offered a position by the Council of Economic Advisers in Pervez Musharraf’s government, which Qureshi did not accept. Qureshi also served as District Nazim (Mayor) of Multan from 2000 to 2002, during which time he supervised development projects in Multan.
Success again
In 2002, Qureshi was elected to the National Assembly from Multan for the second time as a PPP candidate, defeating Javed Hashmi. According to reports, he won these elections using his influence. In 2006, Benazir Bhutto appointed Qureshi as PPP Punjab president to revive the party’s popularity in southern Punjab. In 2008, Qureshi once again won the National Assembly from Multan, a turning point in his political career.
The position of Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi assumed the post of Foreign Minister in the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government. Initially, Qureshi was nominated to Minister for External Affairs in Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani’s cabinet. When he took charge of the office, he immediately clarified that his priorities included establishing peace in the region and maintaining friendly relations with India. In October 2008, Qureshi travelled to China for his first foreign visit, accompanied by then Defense Minister Ahmed Mukhtar and President Asif Ali Zardari.
Criticism and Changes
In 2011, Qureshi faced criticism after it was revealed that his son Zayn H. Qureshi was working as a legislative aide in the office of Senator John Kerry. In the same year, the government reduced the number of cabinet seats and offered Qureshi the Minister of Water and Power, which he declined, saying that he did not accept the post in place of the Foreign Ministry.
In February 2011, Qureshi lost his post as foreign minister following the Raymond Davis affair. In November 2011, he resigned from the PPP, stating that “the PPP is no longer Benazir Bhutto’s party but has become the Zardari League.” He also gave up his National Assembly membership.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)
In late November 2011, Qureshi announced joining the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). On 4 December 2011, he was appointed as the first vice-chairman of the PTI and became the party’s parliamentary leader in the National Assembly.
In intra-party elections in 2016, Qureshi was reappointed as PTI’s vice-chairman, considered one of the three senior positions in the party. In the 2013 general elections, he won again for the National Assembly from Multan on a PTI ticket.
2018 General Elections
Shah Mahmood Qureshi won re-election to the National Assembly as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate from constituency NA-156 (Multan III) in the 2018 Pakistani general elections. After his election, he emerged as the PTI’s nominee for Speaker of the National Assembly, with Imran Khan convincing him for the post due to his long parliamentary experience. However, Qureshi showed reluctance to take up the post.
On 18 August 2018, Imran Khan formally announced the composition of his federal cabinet, naming Qureshi as the Minister for Foreign Affairs. On 20 August 2018, he was sworn in as Federal Minister for External Affairs in Prime Minister Imran Khan’s federal cabinet.
International Discourse
On 21 May 2021, while Qureshi was at an emergency session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, he said in an interview with CNN that “Israel is losing”. He added that Israel is failing in its resource and media war. His statement sparked controversy and public discussion of Jewish stereotypes.
Personal life
On 3 July 2020, Qureshi announced that he had tested positive for Covid-19 after high-level meetings with US Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad. However, he later recovered.
Career Statistics
26th and 36th Minister of Foreign Affairs
20 August 2018 – 10 April 2022
| Name | Info |
| Prime Minister | Imran Khan |
| Preceded | Abdullah Hussain Haroon (Caretaker) |
| Succeeded | Bilawal Bhutto Zardari |
31 March 2008 – 9 February 2011
| Name | Info |
| Prime Minister | Yusuf Raza Gillani |
| Preceded | Inam-ul-Haq (Caretaker) |
| Succeeded | Hina Rabbani Khar |
Mayor of Multan
28 March 2001 – 5 January 2002
| Name | Info |
| Preceded | Malik Aamir Dogar |
| Succeeded | Maj Azam Suleman (Acting) |
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs
20 December 1994 – 5 November 1996
| Prime Minister | Benazir Bhutto |
| Preceded | Tanvir ul Hasan Gilani |
| Succeeded | Shahid Hamid (Caretaker) |
Provincial Minister for Finance of Punjab
1990–1993
| Governor |
|
| Chief Minister | Ghulam Haider Wyne |
1988–1990
| Governor | Tikka Khan |
| Chief Minister | Nawaz Sharif |
Provincial Minister of Punjab for Planning and Development
1988–1990
| Name | Info |
| Governor | Tikka Khan |
| Chief Minister | Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif |
Vice chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
3 December 2011
| Chairman |
|
| Preceded | Position established |
Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan
25 July 2018 – 10 April 2022
| Constituency | NA156 Multan-III |
| 2013 – 2018 | |
| Constituency | NA156 Multan-III |
| 2008 – November 2011 | |
| Constituency | NA148 Multan-I |
| 2002–2007 | |
| Constituency | NA148 Multan-I |
| 1993–1996 | |
| Constituency | NA120 Multan-cum-Khanewal |
Member of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab
1990–1993
| Constituency | PP166 Multan |
| 1988–1990 | |
| Constituency | PP166 Multan |
| 12 March 1985 – 30 May 1988 | |
| Constituency | PP164 Multan |
FAQ (Q & A)
1 -What is Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s qualification?
Shah Mahmood Qureshi holds a degree in law and history. He graduated from Aitchison College in Lahore and pursued higher education at Forman Christian College. He later went to the University of Cambridge, where he studied law. His academic background in law and history has helped him in his political career, particularly in international relations.
2 -Who is the son of Shah Muhammad Qureshi?
Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s son is Zain Hussain Qureshi. Zain is also involved in politics and was a member of Pakistan’s National Assembly from 2018 to 2023. He is actively participating in political affairs in his father’s footsteps.
3 -Who is Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s brother?
Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s brother is Mureed Hussain Qureshi. While not as politically prominent as Shah Mahmood, Mureed Hussain is associated with the spiritual and religious leadership of the Shrine of Bahauddin Zakariya in Multan, Pakistan.
4 -Did Shah Mahmood Qureshi receive Imran Khan?
Yes, Shah Mahmood Qureshi has received Imran Khan several times, particularly in political and diplomatic settings. As a senior leader in Imran Khan’s political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Qureshi has played a key role in welcoming and accompanying Khan to various public and political events, domestically and internationally.
5 -Which ministerial position has Shah Mahmood Qureshi held?
Shah Mahmood Qureshi has held several significant ministerial positions in Pakistan. Most notably, he served as the Foreign Minister of Pakistan twice—once from 2008 to 2011 and then from 2018 to 2022. He has also served as the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and held other foreign policy and international relations roles.
6 -Who is Shah Mahmood Qureshi?
Shah Mahmood Qureshi is a Pakistani politician and a key leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. He has been a member of Pakistan’s National Assembly multiple times and served as the country’s Foreign Minister in two different tenures. He is also the spiritual leader of the Sufi Shrine of Bahauddin Zakariya in Multan and is known for his influential role in politics and religious affairs. Qureshi has a long-standing political career focusing on diplomacy and foreign policy.
