US Senator Christopher Van Hollen Born in Karachi
US Democrat Senator Christopher Van Hollen was born in Karachi in 1959. He wants to run for the American president's office in 2028.
His biography on the Maryland Manual Online, a website run by the Maryland state government, says he was born in the port city in 1959.
Special Connection with Pakistan
Van Hollen spoke about his "special connection" with Pakistan in a message released on Pakistan's Independence Day last year.
I am proud to join you in celebrating Pakistan's 79th Independence Day. I am fortunate to have a special connection with Pakistan, having been born in Karachi as the son of an American foreign service officer.
Throughout my life, I have experienced first hand the generosity, the goodness and the determination of the Pakistani people. I am proud to celebrate the strong people-to-people ties between the our two countries. I look forward to further strengthening the ties of friendship between the Amercians and the Pakistani people.
Education and Background
Besides Pakistan, the Maryland senator spent time in India. He studied at Kodaikanal International School in Tamil Nadu state. He later studied philosophy at Swarthmore College. He earned a master's degree in public policy from Harvard University. He received his Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University and was admitted to the Maryland Bar in 1990.
Political Career
Van Hollen has been a member of the US Senate since January 2017. Before that, he was a member of the US House of Representatives from 2003 to 2017.
In 2021, he thanked Pakistan among other countries for helping evacuate American nationals and others stranded in Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover of the country.
2028 Presidential Plans
After the Republicans' defeat in the recent midterms, Van Hollen was seen as a possible replacement for Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer. However, he ended the speculation by telling Fox 5, a channel owned by the Fox Broadcasting Company, that he had "made clear that I'm not looking to be the next Democratic leader. I've been kicking the tires on a 2028 presidential election".
Source: dawn