Former Ameer of Jamaat-i-Islami Syed Munawar Hassan breathed his last in Karachi on Friday after a protracted illness. He was 79, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Syed Munawar Hassan was under treatment at a private hospital in Karachi for some time. His Namaz-i-Janaza will be offered at Eidgah Ground in Karachi's Nazimabad area after Zohr prayers on Saturday.

Munawar Hassan was chosen as the fourth Ameer of JI in March 2009 to replace Qazi Hussain Ahmad, who had stepped down on health grounds from the coveted slot. He bagged over 80 percent of the total votes polled for the election of the new Ameer, who had been chosen for five-year term.

Qazi Hussain Ahmad remained head of the party for 21 years.

Since the inception of the JI in 1941, the central Ameer is chosen every five years, while its founder Maulana Syed Abul Aala Maudoodi was the first Ameer, who remained in the office until 1972 when he stepped down citing his deteriorating health. The Maulana was succeeded by Mian Tufail Muhammad, who remained Ameer for three terms, that is, till 1987. He also did not opt for another term owing to his bad health. From 1972 to 1987 was the period when the JI created its strongholds in the educational institutions, through its student organisation Islami Jamiat Talba. However, the party got a boost when Qazi Hussain Ahmad stepped in the shoes of Mian Tufail in 1987 and also joined the six-party religious alliance Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal.

Munawwar Hasan was born in August 1941 in New Delhi, and his family opted for Pakistan after migrating to Karachi in 1947. Son of Syed Akhlaq Hasan, Munawar Hassan earned Masters in Sociology (1963) and Islamic Studies (1966) degree from Karachi University. He also remained editor of the college magazine. He also became part of the student body with leftist leaning National Students Federation during General Ayub Khan's era, and was elected NSF President in 1959. He was also a good player of badminton.

Later, he got closer to the IJT, and joined it in 1960 to be elected as President IJT Karachi University Unit, Karachi City Unit and member of the Central Executive Council.

In 1964, he became all-Pakistan President IJT and remained in that position for three consecutive terms. In 1963, he joined the Islamic Research Academy, Karachi as a Research Assistant and became its Secretary General in 1969. Syed Munawar Hassan became member of JI in 1967, and worked in various capacities at Karachi.

In 1970s, he started his electoral politics, and contested the National Assembly election in 1977, securing the highest number of votes in Pakistan. He was married in 1974 to Aisha Munawar, and the couple has two children. His wife has also remained the Secretary General JI women wing and MNA in the Assembly.

Sirajul Haq replaced Syed Munawar Hassan as Ameer of Jamaat-i-Islami in 2014.

Chaudhary brothers condole Munawar's death

Pakistan Muslim League (PML) President and former Prime Minister Ch Shujat Hussain, Speaker Punjab Assembly Ch Parvez Elahi and MNA Moonis Elahi have also expressed their deep heartfelt sorrow and grief over demise of former Amir Jamaat-e-Islami Syed Munawwar Hassan.

The PML leaders said that Syed Munawwar Hassan had played important role in promoting Jamaat-e-Islami, he was a non-controversial personality.

They said that mutual relations between Jamaat-e-Islami and Pakistan Muslim League are established on non-political basis, Syed Munawwar Hassan's religious and political services will be remembered for longer period, may Almighty Allah bless the soul of Syed Munawwar Hassan with eternal rest in peace and grant solace and patience to the relatives and mourners.