Munir Akram

His Excellency
Munir Akram
منير اکرم
Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations
Incumbent
Assumed office
1 November 2019
PresidentArif Alvi
Asif Ali Zardari
Prime MinisterImran Khan
Shahbaz Sharif
Anwaar ul Haq Kakar (caretaker)
Shahbaz Sharif
Preceded byMaleeha Lodhi
In office
28 May 2002 – 26 July 2008
PresidentPervez Musharraf
Prime MinisterMir Zafarullah Khan Jamali
Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain
Shaukat Aziz
Yousaf Raza Gillani
Preceded byShamshad Ahmad
Succeeded byHussain Haroon
76th President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council
In office
23 July 2020 – 23 July 2021
Preceded byMona Juul
Succeeded byCollen Vixen Kelapile
Personal details
Born (1945-02-14) 14 February 1945 (age 79)
Karachi, British India
Alma materUniversity of Karachi
OccupationDiplomat

Munir Akram (Urdu: منير اکرم; born 2 December 1945) is a Pakistani diplomat currently serving for the second time as Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations. He had previously held the post from 2002 to 2008, during which time he also served two terms as President of the United Nations Security Council. On 23 July 2020 Akram was elected President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council,[1] serving from July 2020 to July 2021.[2]

Career

Akram received a Bachelors degree in law from the University of Karachi, before studying for a Masters degree in political science at the same institution. He cleared the elite Central Superior Services examinations in 1968 to enter public service. After mandatory training, he formally joined the Foreign Service of Pakistan in 1969, his first posting being as second secretary at Pakistan's Permanent Mission to the United Nations. Later, in addition to holding various positions at the Foreign Ministry, he served in several important diplomatic missions, including as Pakistan's ambassador to Japan (1982–1985) and to the European Union (1988–1992).[3]

Munir Akram (right) with Jacques Delors

Akram served as Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations Office at Geneva from 1995 to 2002,[4] before holding the same post in New York, where he served until 2008.[5] He had reached superannuation in 2005, but was hired again on an extension contract.[6] He was dismissed by the newly elected President, Asif Ali Zardari, in 2008 because of his disagreement over presenting the case of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto to the United Nations.[7] He also served as President of the Security Council for two separate terms, in 2002 and 2004.

On 30 September 2019 Akram was reappointed as Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York.[8]

Akram is also a regular columnist for Pakistan's leading English daily newspaper, Dawn.[9]

In 2003 Akram's then live-in girlfriend, Marijana Mihic, called the police to report him for alleged violent assault against her.[10] Her report included charges of previous incidents of violence.[11] While the New York Police Department did not arrest Akram owing to his diplomatic immunity, the case was pursued by the New York County District Attorney, Robert Morgenthau, with the backing of Majorie Tiven, sister of the then Mayor, Michael Bloomberg.[12]

In February 2003, the District Attorney's office dropped the investigation after the Marijana Mihic retracted her allegations.[13]

Affiliations

Akram is an advisory board member of the Counter Extremism Project.[14] He is also a former board member of Allis-Chalmers Energy, serving at the company between September 2008 and June 2009.[15]

References

  1. ^ "President of ECOSOC". Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  2. ^ Hub, IISD's SDG Knowledge. "ECOSOC President Offers Preview of 2022 Session | News | SDG Knowledge Hub | IISD". Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  3. ^ "Munir Akram's Curriculum Vitae" (PDF). Pakistan's Mission to the United Nations. 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 October 2017. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  4. ^ "New Permanent Representative of Pakistan Presents Credentials". www.un.org. 28 May 2002. Archived from the original on 1 October 2019. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  5. ^ "Pak UN envoy Munir Akram leaving post". The Nation. 26 July 2008. Archived from the original on 30 September 2019. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  6. ^ Estacode (PDF). Establishment Division, Government of Pakistan. 2015. pp. 533–535. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  7. ^ "INSIGHT: Axing Amb Munir Akram – Ejaz Haider". Archives of Daily Times (newspaper). 27 July 2008. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  8. ^ Siddiqui, Naveed (30 September 2019). "In major reshuffle, Munir Akram to replace Maleeha Lodhi as Pakistan's envoy to UN". DAWN.COM. Archived from the original on 30 September 2019. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  9. ^ "Opinion Pieces by Munir Akram". Dawn.com. Archived from the original on 1 October 2019. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  10. ^ "Pakistan ambassador in assault row". CNN.com/world. 8 January 2003. Archived from the original on 5 April 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  11. ^ "U.S. Asks Pakistan to Lift U.N. Envoy's Immunity After a Violent Quarrel". The New York Times. 8 January 2003. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  12. ^ Sirohi, Seema; Mir, Amir (27 January 2003). "Sex, Rhetoric And Diplomatic Impunity". Outlook. Archived from the original on 30 September 2019. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  13. ^ "Investigation against Akram dropped". DAWN.COM. 5 February 2003. Archived from the original on 30 September 2019. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  14. ^ "Leadership". Counter Extremism Project. Archived from the original on 8 April 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  15. ^ "Munir Akram - Profile". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Pakistan Ambassador to the United Nations
2002–2008 		Succeeded by