Muna Habib, a former television reporter and journalist, gained attention because of her relationship with Richard Olson, a retired US diplomat who once served as the US ambassador to Pakistan.
This relationship became controversial when an investigation revealed some unusual aspects of Olson’s behavior during his diplomatic career.
The story unfolded when it was disclosed that Habib had an affair with Olson while he was still married to another US diplomat. This relationship started in 2012 during Olson’s ambassadorship in Pakistan and lasted for two years. They eventually broke up in late 2014 when Habib discovered that Olson had been unfaithful to both her and his wife. However, they reconnected later, and Olson played a significant role in helping Habib with her education at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in 2015.
During this time, Olson introduced Habib to Imaad Zuberi, a Pakistani-American dealmaker, who promised financial assistance of $25,000, although this support was not fully delivered. Zuberi is now serving a 12-year prison sentence for illegal campaign donations and tax crimes.
The relationship between Habib and Olson came under scrutiny, and Olson reported it to the CIA’s station chief in Islamabad. In 2019, Olson pleaded guilty to misdemeanors related to his conduct during his diplomatic career, which included not disclosing gifts and improperly lobbying for foreign interests.
Despite Olson’s ongoing legal troubles, he married Habib in June 2019, and they currently live in New Mexico. In a phone interview, Habib brushed off questions about her relationship with Olson, dismissing them as “sensationalized rumors” and expressing her frustration with the attention.
The article also mentioned that Olson had undisclosed relationships with several Pakistani women, including Muna Habib, during his diplomatic posting in Islamabad between 2012 and 2015. Olson retired in 2016.
The report also revealed that Olson was investigated for failing to report a $60,000 diamond jewelry gift given to his former wife, Deborah Jones, by the emir of Dubai. Olson informed the FBI that he had discussed his dating activities with the CIA’s Islamabad station chief. Olson is scheduled to be sentenced in US District Court in Washington after pleading guilty to two misdemeanors last year.
