Shah Mahmood Qureshi

Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Hussain Qureshi (born 22 June 1956) is a Pakistani politician who has twice served as the Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, first from 2008 to 2011 and later from 2018 to 2022. He has served as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)'s Vice Chairman since 2011. Qureshi has had an extensive parliamentary career, serving five non-consecutive terms as a Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan between 1993 and 2022, representing Multan. He previously served as a Member of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab for three consecutive terms from 1985 to 1993.

Born in Multan, Punjab, Qureshi received his early education at Aitchison College. He later obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Forman Christian College and a Master of Arts degree from Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. He entered provincial politics in 1985 and remained a member of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab for nine years. During this period, he held various ministerial portfolios in the Punjab provincial cabinet between 1988 and 1993.

Qureshi entered federal politics in the 1990s and served as the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs from 1993 to 1996. He later served as the Mayor of Multan from 2000 to 2002 before returning to parliamentary politics. He was elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan from Multan in 2002, 2008, 2013, and 2018.

In 2008, Qureshi was appointed Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs in the government of Yousaf Raza Gillani, serving until 2011. He joined the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in 2011 and was appointed as the party's Vice Chairman. Following the 2018 Pakistani general election, he again became Foreign Minister in the government of Imran Khan, serving from 2018 until 2022.

Qureshi was elected as a Member of the National Assembly in the 2018 Pakistani general election and resigned from his seat on 10 April 2022 during the political crisis surrounding the removal of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

In July 2025, Qureshi was acquitted by an Anti-Terrorism Court in Lahore in a case related to the May 9 riots that followed the arrest of Imran Khan. The court cited insufficient evidence while clearing Qureshi and several other accused individuals. The case remained politically controversial, with opposition parties alleging political victimisation, while government authorities maintained that the proceedings were conducted according to law.

Qureshi remains one of the senior-most leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. Following subsequent political developments, he has been regarded as one of the leading contenders for the office of Chief Minister of Punjab if PTI forms the provincial government.

Early life and education Qureshi was born on 22 June 1956 in Multan, Punjab to a wealthy, political and prominent Makhdoom Qureshi family. His family is of saintly lineage and caretakers of the Shrine of Bahauddin Zakariya in Multan, which provides the family with substantial income, as well votes during the elections.

Qureshi is fluent in Urdu, English, Punjabi and Saraiki. and was close friend of then President of Pakistan Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq who appointed him as governor of Punjab. a bachelor's from Forman Christian College and received MA (Law) and MA (History) degree

He was re-elected for the second time to the National Assembly of Pakistan from Multan in the 2002 Pakistani general election on PPP seat and defeated Makhdoom Javed Hashmi. Reportedly, Qureshi slapped an officer for beating a party activist of PPP in 2006.

After taking charge of the office, Qureshi immediately made clear that he was committed to establishing peace in the region and that maintaining friendly ties with neighbouring India were amongst his top priorities. Qureshi went on his first visit as foreign minister to China in October 2008 with then Defence Minister of Pakistan Ahmad Mukhtar and then President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari.

In 2011, Qureshi faced criticism in Pakistan when it was discovered that his son, Zain H. Qureshi, was working as a Legislative Fellow in the office of Senator John Kerry.

In February 2011, the Government of Pakistan reduced the number of cabinet seats and during the transition, Qureshi was offered the position of Minister of Water and Power. He declined, saying that he was "not interested in water and power ministry in place of foreign affairs."

In February 2011, he lost the portfolio of Foreign Minister following the Raymond Davis affair.

Qureshi is one of three prominent politicians from Multan District, the other two being the Yousaf Raza Gillani and Javed Hashmi (Multan II) and are considered political rivals to each other.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf In late November 2011, Qureshi announced joining the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) at a rally in Ghotki. On 4 December 2011, he was appointed the first Vice Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf as its parliamentary leader in National Assembly of Pakistan. In 2016 intra-party elections, Qureshi was re-appointed the Vice Chairman of PTI, which is considered one of the three senior most positions in the party. He was re-elected to the National Assembly from Multan in the 2013 Pakistani general election on the ticket of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. Following his successful election, he emerged as PTI's nominee for the office of Speaker of the National Assembly. Reportedly, Imran Khan convinced him to take the office because of his long parliamentary experience. However, Qureshi showed reluctance to take the portfolio. Qureshi (right) with Prime Minister Imran Khan (centre) and Donald Trump (left) in 2019. On 18 August, Imran Khan formally announced his federal cabinet structure and Qureshi was named as Minister for Foreign Affairs. On 20 August 2018, he was sworn in as Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs in the federal cabinet of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

On 21 May 2021, while he was in New York City at an emergency session held by the United Nations General Assembly on 20 May to discuss a response to the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis, Qureshi conducted an interview with American journalist Bianna Golodryga on CNN. During the interview, Qureshi stated: "Israel is losing out. They're losing the media war despite their connections"; Golodryga asked, "What are their connections?"; to which Qureshi replied, "Deep pockets." before elaborating further: "Well, they are very influential people. I mean, they control media." Golodryga responded, "I would call that an antisemitic remark," and the comment sparked controversy and a public discussion of Jewish stereotypes.

Arrest and Imprisonment

On 20 August 2023, Qureshi was arrested by authorities due to his relation to Lettergate on the basis of using the diplomatic "cypher" cable for political gains. He was tried on charges of making state secrets public in violation of the Official Secrets Act. The Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered his release from Adiala jail, though he was re-arrested on 27 December 2023. His re-arrest drew widespread criticism from PTI and international observers for mistreatment as Qureshi was manhandled and dragged to his jail cell by police. PTI stated that his arrest was a sign of fascism in Pakistan. Former President Arif Alvi stated that "treating an ex foreign minister from two regimes in an undignified manner must draw the attention of the authorities."

Personal life On 3 July 2020, Qureshi announced he had tested positive for COVID-19 days after holding high-profile meetings including one with U.S. special representative on Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad in Islamabad. He eventually recovered.