Former federal minister and a veteran leader of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Jehangir Bader was laid to rest at Miani Sahib graveyard after his funeral prayer was offered outside the Punjab University Law College on Monday.
The Namaz-e-Jinaza of PPP loyalist was attended by a large number of people hailing from different walks of life and political leaders of almost all the parties in order to pay him tributes as he spent his whole life to strengthen the democracy.
Born in a middle-class family in October, 1944, in the walled city of Lahore, Bader was one of few politicians in the party who faced the hardships of almost all the military dictators but his association with the PPP remained unflinching till his death. He started his political career in 60’s from the student politics when he was elected as the president of student union in 1968 during his stay at Hailey College (Punjab University). He was arrested in August 1977 and a military court sentenced him the imprisonment of one year with lashes. Jehangir Bader was also awarded solitary confinement when Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was also imprisoned in the Kot Lakhpat Jail. There Bhutto used to hear the slogan of ‘Jeay Bhutto’ quite often from his surroundings. Bhutto wanted to know about the person who used to raise the said slogan and he was told by Mrs Bhutto that a student leader namely Jehangir Bader chanted this slogan whenever he received a lash on his body. Bhutto was highly impressed by the courage shown by Bader and he directed his wife (Nusrat Bhutto) and daughter (Benazir Bhutto) to give respect to him after coming into power.
He became the member of the National Assembly after contesting election from the walled city of Lahore in 1988. He was made senator on PPP’s ticket firstly in 1994 and then in 2009. He held the portfolio of Political Affairs and Religious Affairs in the federal cabinet in 1996. Moreover, he also worked as federal minister for Petroleum & Natural Resources, Housing & Works and Science & Technology during the government of Benazir Bhutto.
Bader remained the president of PPP Punjab firstly from 1985 to 1988 and then from 1991 to 1995. He was also appointed as the general secretary of PPP in 1999 by Benazir Bhutto as he was a close confidant of late Mrs Bhutto. Bader played an important role in organising the biggest political rally of the country when Benazir Bhutto came back from the self-exile in April, 1986, as he was the PPP Punjab president of at that time and the roads of Lahore were flooded with people in a bid to welcome their leader. Bader was also arrested in 2001 during Parvez Musharraf regime because of his pro-active role in the movement of Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD).
Bader had some kidney issues for some time and he breathed his last at a private hospital of Defence Housing Authority (DHA) on late Sunday night after suffering from a heart attack. He is survived by a widow, two sons and a daughter.
A large number of politicians, lawyers, human rights activists and journalists participated in his funeral prayer. Notable among them were Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Nisar Khuro, Nayyar Bukhari, Leader of the opposition in National Assembly Syed Khurshid Shah, Yousaf Raza Gillani, Raja Parvez Ashraf, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Ch Muhammad Sarwar, Mian Mehmood-ur-Rashid, Kh Salman Rafique, Rana Mashhood Ahmed, Parvez Malik, Qamar Zaman Kaira and Makhdoom Javaid Hashmi. Participants paid rich tributes to Bader by recalling his efforts for the democracy.
“Jehangir Bader was among very few politicians who received harsh treatment from all the military dictators,” Makhdoom Javaid Hashmi, who himself is a political stalwart said.
Qamar Zaman Kaira, PPP Information Secretary also lauded the services of his colleague and said that it was now very hard to find the people like Jehangir Bader. “The sacrifices and services of Bader for the sake of democracy in Pakistan are numerous,” Kaira said.
Meanwhile, Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Mamnoon Hussain have expressed condolence over the demise of Bader. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also expressed shock over the death of his party loyalist and lauded his services. The party chairman has announced a country-wide mourning for three days.