Ali Haider’s release: People throng to Gilani’s residence

MULTAN: Ali Haider Gilani is the youngest son of former prime minister and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Yousuf Raza Gilani.

Born in 1988, the year when his father joined the PPP, Ali Haider received his early education from Multan and was later sent to Lahore for higher education. He was contesting for the Punjab Assembly’s PP-200 constituency when he was kidnapped prior to the 2013 general elections.

Ali was earlier diagnosed with liver problems due to which his liver was transplanted in London in 2010 when Gilani was the prime minister. He was also suffering from asthma and was on regular medicines.

He has a son, who was born just before his kidnapping. This son, named Jamal Gilani, is now almost three and a half years old and is very excited to meet his father who is expected to be arriving in Multan today.

Meanwhile, Gilani’s family was showered with felicitations from all around the world after the news about Ali Haider’s recovery spread.

Thousands of supporters came out on the roads in Gilani’s hometown while hundreds of people, including PPP workers and relatives, thronged to Gilani’s residence despite scorching heat.

Youths danced on drumbeat, shouted slogans and distributed confectionary.

Separate celebrations were witnessed at Gilani’s residences in his constituency and Multan Cantt, at the mausoleum of Sufi saint Moosa Paak Shaheed, in Shujabad and Jalal Pur Peer Waala sub-districts, at the PP-200 constituency and in many urban and rural areas of Multan.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 11^th, 2016.