Karim was born in Batusangkar, today in the Tanah Datar Regency of West Sumatra, on 22 October 1910.

[2][3] He served as the secretary to the Republican military governor of Central Sumatra, Sutan Mohammad Rasjid [id], between Operation Kraai and the end of the revolution.

[6] During the post-revolutionary period, Karim was appointed as Minister of Agriculture, representing the Indonesian National Party, for the Second Ali Sastroamidjojo Cabinet.

[1] In a period of high tensions in West Sumatra, in January 1957 Karim was sent to lead a delegation from the national government to the "Banteng Council".

[12] He was appointed acting governor of North Sumatra several months later on 8 April 1963, replacing Raja Junjungan Lubis who was facing significant opposition from the Indonesian Communist Party.