Veteran politician and President Asif Ali Zardari’s father Hakim Ali Zardari passed away on Tuesday. He was 81. Born in 1930, late Hakim was an industrialist and a landlord from Sindh. He belonged to the Baloch (Paroch) family settled in Sindh. He had been involved in Pakistani politics since the 70s and had served as federal minister twice.
Originally, a member of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), he was elected member of the National Assembly from Nawabshah. Later, after developing differences with PPP founding chairman Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Hakim joined the National Democratic Party (NDP) of Sardar Sherbaz Mazari in the mid 70s. Hakim was also jailed during the Bhutto government.
However, after his son, Asif Zardari married late Bhutto’s daughter Benazir Bhutto in 1987. Hakim rejoined the PPP in 1988 and was elected MNA from Nawabshah in the same year. He remained active in politics until the early 90s. His death was widely condoled and people from various walks of life expressed grief and sorrow over his demise. Expressing profound grief over Hakims’ demise, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said his services for the welfare of the people will be remembered for a long time.
He said Hakim was a close companion of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and struggled throughout life for the restoration of democracy in the country. Talking to reporters, Minister for Petroleum Asim Hussain said Hakim Zardari was a proud father and he served the country well. Minister for Ports and Shipping Dr Babar Ghauri expressed deepest sympathies with President Zardari and said services of Hakim Zardari for politics would long be remembered.
Minister for Privatisation Ghous Bukhsh Mehr, Minister of State for Privatisation Rana Asif Tauseef, Finance Minister Hafeez Shaikh and former privatisation minister Waqar Khan also condoled the president. Defence Minister and PIA Chairman Ahmad Mukhtar, PIA Managing Director Nadeem Khan Yousafzai and members of the board of directors sent their condolences over the sad demise of Hakim Ali Zardari.
Adviser to Prime Minister Qasim Shah said his thoughts and prayers are with President Zardari and for his family on this tragedy. Extending deep and heartfelt sympathies with the president, Advisor to Prime Minister Mustafa Khokhar said he was sorry over the irreparable loss. Former information minister Sherry Rehman, former minister of state Ayatullah Durrani, Parliamentary Secretary for Health Dr Mehreen Raza Bhutto, Health Secretary Nargis Sethi, Pakistan Baitul Maal Chairman Zamurd Khan, Associated Press of Pakistan Managing Director Muhammad Riaz and PPP Central Executive Committee member Qazi Sultan Mahmood also offered their condolences over the death of Hakim Ali Zardari.
