Muhammad Zubair Umar

Mohammad Zubair Umar
Umar in 2017
29th Governor of Sindh
In office
2 February 2017 – 3 August 2018
PresidentMamnoon Hussain
Preceded bySaeeduzzaman Siddiqui
Agha Siraj Durrani (Acting)
Succeeded byImran Ismail
Agha Siraj Durrani (Acting)
Chairman Privatization Commission of Pakistan (Minister of State)
In office
18 December 2013 – 2 February 2017
Chairman Board of Investment
In office
12 July 2013 – 17 December 2013
Personal details
Political partyPTI (2025-present)
Other political
affiliations		PMLN (2012-2024)
RelativesAsad Umar (brother)
EducationMBA
Alma materInstitute of Business Administration

Mohammad Zubair Umar (Urdu: محمد زبیر عمر) is a Pakistani politician who served as 32nd Governor of Sindh from February 2017 to August 2018. Once a prominent leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (N), he served as the Chairman of Privatisation Commission of Pakistan with the status of State Minister from 2013 to 2017. He also served as Chief Spokesperson to former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as well to his daughter Maryam Nawaz.[1]

Early life and education

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Umar was born in Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to Major General (retd) Ghulam Umar, and was raised in Karachi; he belongs to a Punjabi family with pre-partition roots in Patiala (current-day Punjab, India).[2] His father was an army officer who was regarded as a close associate of President Yahya Khan and served as the first Advisor to the National Security Council (NSC), established during Yahya Khan's administration.[3] Zubair is elder brother to Asad Umar who was a prominent leader of Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.[4] Another brother, Muneer Kamal, is also a finance graduate who has worked in the corporate sector.[5]

He received his master's degree in business administration from Institute of Business Administration (IBA)[6] in 1981.[7] At IBA, he became the member of the Board of Directors in 1980 and taught Financial Management from 1981 to 1986.[6]

Professional career

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After completing his MBA, Umar joined IBM from 1981 until his resignation in 2007, as he projected to participate in politics.[7][8] Within IBM, he served in various financial and managerial roles over a span of more than 26 years.[5] He held postings in cities including Rome, Milan, Paris, and Dubai.[9] In 1998, he was appointed Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for IBM Pakistan, and in 2004, he was promoted to CFO of IBM’s Middle East/Africa region.[9]

Media career

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Prior to his formal entry into politics, Umar engaged in media-related activities. He hosted television programs focusing on economic and financial issues, leveraging his extensive corporate experience to provide insights into Pakistan's economic landscape.[10]

Political career

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Pakistan Muslim League (N) (2012-2024)

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After joining PML-N in 2012, he became part of the PML-N's Economic, Tax Reforms Media Committees.[7][11]

Umar was chairman of the Pakistan Board of Investment from 12 July 2013 to 17 December 2013.[6]

He served as Chairman of Privatisation Commission of Pakistan with the status of minister of state from December 2013 until February 2017.[12][6][8]

In January 2017, he was appointed as the 32nd Governor of Sindh.[13][6][10] He took the oath of office in February 2017.[14]

Following the 2018 Pakistani general election, he resigned from the office of Sindh Governor on 28 July 2018.[15] His resignation was accepted on 3 August 2018.[16]

He left the PML(N) on 9 June 2024. He explained that "the differences were too vast", citing examples such as the no-confidence motion against Imran Khan, the performance of the first Shehbaz Sharif ministry, and the 2024 Pakistani general election.[17]

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (2025-present)

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As of June 2025, Umar had reportedly decided to join Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) after parting ways with PML-N. According to news reports, internal consultations within PTI have taken place regarding his potential inclusion, and the party's founder Imran Khan has reportedly given the green signal for his induction.[18][19]

Controversies

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Leaked sextape (2021)

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On 26 September 2021 sexually explicit videos were posted online by anonymous sources that allegedly show Umar with at least one unidentified woman in one of Islamabad's rest houses. The other woman was speculated to be Gharida Farooqi since the woman in the video was also wearing the same pajamas as Gharidah did on her live TV show.[20] Umar and his party (PMLN) leaders claimed the videos were doctored and fake, however, neither he or his party approached the court.[21][22]

References

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  1. ^ "Maryam Nawaz asks Zubair Umar to continue working as her spokesperson". 29 September 2021.
  2. ^ Tunio, Hafeez (2 February 2017). "Zubair to be more vocal, agile governor". The Express Tribune. Archived from the original on 8 June 2025.
  3. ^ "Brother of Sindh governor and PTI's Asad Umar passes away in Karachi". The Express Tribune. 24 June 2018. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  4. ^ "Muhammad Zubair named Sindh governor - The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 31 January 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Interview with Muhammad Zubair Umar". IBA Alumni Magazine. Archived from the original on 7 June 2025.
  6. ^ a b c d e "PML-N's Muhammad Zubair to take charge as governor of Sindh". DAWN.COM. 30 January 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  7. ^ a b c "Official Website - Sindh Governor House Pakistan". www.governorsindh.gov.pk. Archived from the original on 12 December 2017. Retrieved 12 December 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  8. ^ a b "Mohammad Zubair named new Sindh governor - The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 30 January 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  9. ^ a b "Ex-Sindh governor Muhammad Zubair parts ways with PML-N". Geo News. 1 June 2024. Archived from the original on 7 June 2025.
  10. ^ a b "Zubair brings experience of academia and corporate boardroom to Sindh Governor House". Dawn. 2 February 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  11. ^ "Zubair brings experience of academia and corporate boardroom to Sindh Governor House". DAWN.COM. 31 January 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  12. ^ "Chairman's Profile". Privatisation Commission. 30 January 2017. Archived from the original on 30 January 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  13. ^ "Zubair to be made Sindh Governor; Karachi tops his agenda". The News. 30 January 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  14. ^ "PML-N's Muhammad Zubair takes oath as 32nd governor of Sindh in Karachi". DAWN.COM. 2 February 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  15. ^ "Zubair Umar to resign as Governor Sindh". The News. 28 July 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  16. ^ "President accepts resignation of Sindh governor". www.pakistantoday.com.pk. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  17. ^ "Ex-governor Sindh Mohammad Zubair formally quits PML-N". DAWN.COM. 9 June 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  18. ^ "Muhammad Zubair, former Sindh governor, likely to join PTI". ARY News. 1 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  19. ^ "Former PML-N stalwart Zubair Umar expected to join PTI soon". Suno News. 1 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  20. ^ "Zubair Umar's leaked video: Is Gharida Farooqi being falsely targeted?". 30 September 2021.
  21. ^ "Objectionable videos of PMLN's Zubair Umar leaked online". www.globalvillagespace.com. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  22. ^ "PML-N's Mohammad Zubair denounces 'fake and doctored' video". DAWN.COM. 27 September 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
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