Muhammad Mian Soomro

Muhammad Mian Soomro
محمد میاں سومرو
Soomro in 2016
Minister of Privatisation
In office
5 October 2018 – 10 April 2022
PresidentArif Alvi
Prime MinisterImran Khan
Preceded byShamshad Akhtar (caretaker)
Acting President of Pakistan
In office
18 August 2008 – 9 September 2008
Prime MinisterYusuf Raza Gillani
Preceded byPervez Musharraf
Succeeded byAsif Ali Zardari
Caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan
In office
16 November 2007 – 24 March 2008
PresidentPervez Musharraf
Preceded byShaukat Aziz
Succeeded byYusuf Raza Gillani
4th Chairman of the Senate
In office
9 September 2008 – 11 March 2009
Preceded byJan Mohammad Jamali (Acting)
Succeeded byFarooq Naek
In office
25 March 2008 – 18 August 2008
Preceded byJan Mohammad Jamali (Acting)
Succeeded byJan Mohammad Jamali (Acting)
In office
23 March 2003 – 16 November 2007
Preceded byWasim Sajjad
Succeeded byJan Mohammad Jamali (Acting)
26th Governor of Sindh
In office
25 May 2000 – 26 December 2002
Preceded byAzim Daudpota
Succeeded byIshratul Ibad
Personal details
Born (1950-08-19) 19 August 1950 (age 74)
Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Parent
Alma materForman Christian College

Muhammad Mian Soomro (Sindhi: محمد ميان سومرو; Urdu: محمد میاں سومرو; born 19 August 1950) is a Pakistani politician, banker and senator who has served as Chairman of the Senate, Caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan and Acting President of Pakistan. He also served as the 26th Governor of Sindh and as Federal Minister for Privatization.

Born to a Native Sindhi family originally linked to the Soomra dynasty, he served as the chairman of the Senate from 2003 to 2009, the Caretaker prime minister of Pakistan from 2007 to 2008, and the acting president of Pakistan from 18 August 2008 to 9 September 2008. Soomro hails from an influential Sindhi feudal family that has been active in national politics since 1923. His father, the late Ahmed Mian Soomro, was Deputy Speaker of the West Pakistan Assembly and a member of the Senate and helped to establish the Senate Committee Systems. He is the grandson of another politician, Khan Bahadur Haji Moula Bux Soomro. He was Caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan from 16 November 2007 to 25 March 2008 to oversee the 2008 General Elections and became the 5th Acting President of Pakistan upon the resignation of Pervez Musharraf on 18 August 2008, both by virtue of his office of the Chairman of the Senate.

Professional life

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An internationally recognised professional banker, Soomro held various top positions both at home and abroad in national and international organisations.[1]

He has also worked in important positions for major banks:

Soomro earned great recognition for his achievements during his time with these organisations. He was also instrumental in the establishment of microcredit banking in Pakistan.

He also held a position at the board of directors of Shell Pakistan Ltd.

Governorship

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Soomro's public service role started with his appointment as the Governor of Sindh on 25 May 2000.

Chairman of the Senate

[edit]

Soomro resigned from the office of Sindh Governor on 26 December 2002 to contest the Senate elections. He was elected as a Senator on 23 February 2003 and was subsequently elected as Chairman of the Senate on 12 March 2003.

Caretaker Prime Minister

[edit]

Soomro was appointed as caretaker prime minister on 15 November 2007, at the expiration of the term of the previous prime minister, Shaukat Aziz, ahead of a new parliamentary election.[2] On 16 November, Soomro was sworn in as prime minister by President Pervez Musharraf.[3] His term ended on 25 March 2008, when Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani was sworn in as prime minister.

President of Pakistan

[edit]

As required by the constitution, Soomro (in his position as Chairman of the Senate) automatically became President on 18 August 2008, upon the resignation of Pervez Musharraf.[4] The constitution also required that a new President be elected by Parliament within 30 days.

Asif Ali Zardari was elected President and subsequently sworn in on 9 September 2008,[5] succeeding Soomro.

Trustee of ILM Trust and Member of UMT Board of Governors

[edit]

Soomro is a trustee of ILM Trust and member of UMT Board of Governors.[6] UMT is a non-profit private-sector research university located in Lahore, Pakistan. In the recent QS Rankings, UMT was placed amongst the Top 500 universities of Asia.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ DAWN.com "Soomro heads interim govt: Inamul Haq, Ishrat Hussain, Salman Taseer, Nisar Memon, Pir of Taunsa Sharif among ministers" Archived 19 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ Khalid Qayum and Khaleeq Ahmed, "Musharraf Picks Soomro as Interim Premier Until Polls", Bloomberg.com, 15 November 2007.
  3. ^ "Soomro takes oath as Pakistan's caretaker PM" Archived 20 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Xinhua (chinadaily.com.cn), 16 November 2007.
  4. ^ "Soomro takes over as Pak President"[permanent dead link], Press Trust of India, 18 August 2008.
  5. ^ Jane Perlez, "Bhutto's widower takes office in Pakistan" Archived 10 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine, International Herald Tribune, 9 September 2008.
  6. ^ "UMT". Facebook. Archived from the original on 12 November 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
Political offices
Preceded by Governor of Sindh
2000–2002
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chairman of the Senate
2003–2007
Succeeded by
Preceded by Prime Minister of Pakistan
Caretaker

2007–2008
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chairman of the Senate
2008
Succeeded by
Preceded by President of Pakistan
Acting

2008
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chairman of the Senate
2008–2009
Succeeded by