Mushahid Hussain
Mushahid Hussain | |
|---|---|
Mushahid Hussain in 2019 | |
| Member of the Senate of Pakistan | |
| In office 12 March 2018 – April 2024 | |
| Constituency | Islamabad Capital Territory |
| In office 12 March 2012 – 11 March 2018 | |
| Constituency | Islamabad Capital Territory |
| In office 23 March 2003 – 11 March 2009 | |
| Constituency | Islamabad Capital Territory |
| Minister of Information and Broadcasting | |
| In office 17 February 1997 – 12 October 1999 | |
| Prime Minister | Nawaz Sharif |
| Minister of Communications | |
| In office 26 May 1993 – 18 July 1993 | |
| Prime Minister | Nawaz Sharif |
| Preceded by | Samina Khalid Ghurki |
| Succeeded by | Rana Shaukat Mehmood |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Mushahid Hussain Syed 2 November 1952 Sialkot, Punjab, Pakistan |
| Citizenship | Pakistan |
| Political party | PMLN (2018-present) |
| Other political affiliations | PML-Q (2001-2018) PMLN (1993-2001) |
| Alma mater | F.C. College University (BA in journalism) Georgetown University (MS in foreign service) |
| Profession | Journalist, politician, |
Mushahid Hussain Syed (Punjabi, Urdu: مشاہد حسین سید; born 2 November 1952) is a Pakistani politician, and journalist who is currently the Pakistan Senator from the Islamabad Capital Territory on the platform of the Pakistan Muslim League (N), since 3 March 2018.
A political journalist by profession, Hussain briefly served in the Sharif administrations in 1990s and is known for his political positions that reflects the national conservatism towards supporting the idea of civilian control of the military. After playing a crucial role in the support of the decision-making towards the nuclear weapons-testing in response to India's in 1998, Hussain's tenure was abrupted by the martial law staged by Pakistan Army Chief Gen. Pervez Musharraf and was held in prison on treason conspiracy in 1999. In 2003, he later defected to the forward block supporting the presidential campaign of Pervez Musharraf and was elected the Pakistan Senator of the Senate.
Despite his support for the PML(Q), the forward block supporting Musharraf for several years, Hussain remained sympathetics towards the PML(N) and eventually joined his original party after being ousted by the forward block in 2016. He is known as a proponent for strengthening the foreign relations with China and Central Asia, having served the Chairman of the China-Pakistan Institute, a lobbying firm based in Islamabad.