Pakistan

Veteran politician Mairaj Muhammad Khan passes away

The senior politician was hospitalised for respiratory problems at a private medical facility in Karachi

News Desk July 21, 2016

In his later years, more than a politician, Mairaj enjoyed the position of an elder statesman. PHOTO: FILE

KARACHI: Veteran politician and founding member of Pakistan People'sParty (PPP) Mairaj Muhammad Khan passed away in Karachi early Friday. He was 77.

According to Express News, the senior politician was hospitalised for respiratory problems at a private medical facility in Karachi.

His funeral prayers were offered after Friday prayers.

A close associate of former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Mairaj had been an active participant in many of the important events that shaped our country in its formative years.

Voice of dissent

He was a key player in the movement that led to the formation of the PPP, the movement against General Ayub Khan in 1968, which was sparked off by NSF-led students, as well as the movement for the restoration of democracy (MRD) against General Ziaul Haq from its formation in 1981 until it culminated in 1988.

He had been through it all; Ayub Khan, Yahya Khan, the dismemberment of Pakistan, the Bhutto years, General Zia and his dictatorship and the return to democracy in 2008. The former federal minister was even associated with Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf for five years (Dec 1997 to 2003 April) and left when his patience was completely exhausted.

In his later years, more than a politician, Mairaj enjoyed the position of an elder statesman.

COMMENTS (12)

Tauqir alam dr | 7 years ago | Reply Indeed Meraj Sahib touched the MERAJ (heightness) of a principled politician. But for me he was a great human being. My elder brother passed away this January was a follower of Meraj Sahib in Karachi's students politics of 1960 era. I heard a lot about Meraj Sahib from him. I once met his elder brother Minhaj Barna Sahib at the residence of late Aziz Siddiqui, editor, The Frontier Post, PeshWar as junior staff reporter in University Town in 1987. Both brothers were great men of their time. They were lthe beacons of light for youth in their times. May Allah rest their souls in eternal piece and give patience and fortitude to their families to bear these loses.

fatehalam | 7 years ago | Reply Its a great surprise to know such high/moral character people in PPP Allah bless his soul

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

Khalid Jamal | 7 years ago | Reply Dear Hassan, As you mention that you personally know MERAJ MUHAMMAD KHAN. Can you please send me his postal address , my father was general secretory of mazdoor kissan party mardan district at his time and after sir MERAJ sad demise he want to share his condellence with sir MERAJ family.

hasan | 7 years ago | Reply I knew Mairaj Bhai personally and I can say with conviction that he had an unblemished character. No money or other issues against his character. May he rest in peace.

Fahim | 7 years ago | Reply A socialist he was right hand of Bhutto in nationalization policy.

Uza Syed | 7 years ago | Reply Bye for good, alas, Mairaj Mohammad Khan! You were a good man. You were a fine example of what a politician must be, a wise, honestly selfless and devoted individual. You will be missed by those few who valued you for what you were-----a great person and a great public intellectual. RIP, sir!

Munir Siddiqi | 7 years ago | Reply In late seventies when Nusrat Bhutto met him at his residence in PECHS, I as a student of politics, visited Khan Saheb to know the possible fate of Bhutto. We sat and discussed so many things in a room where a portrait of Chairman Mao was hanging on a wall. In a casual way he informed that this house has been gifted to his wife, a teacher in College of Home Economics, by her father. A dedicated and honest man he lived his entire life in a simple way. May Allah bless him.

Aamir Aqil | 7 years ago | Reply A sad news, very sad, he was a symbol of integerity and honosty, such personalities are born in centuries. Miraj never compromised on principals, with out the lust for money or wordly benifits he sstrugleed against the dictrators, in him there is an example for our present rulers and political leadership. Through out his life lived a simple life His name in the political history of Pakistan will always be written in golden words. May Allah Subhan Tallah shower his blessings on the departed soul. Its hoped that the leadership of PPP along with other poltical figures will attend his funeral to pay respect to a man who was one of the founding fathers of PPP and a tireless and dedicated political worker always first to raise his voice against the injustice in the society and to fight for the poor of the country.

Shahid | 7 years ago | Reply A thorough gentleman and a modest person.

Abbas | 7 years ago | Reply In Pakistan Political History few person those are ideological and honest man. he is one of them. God bless him

M.S. | 7 years ago | Reply PPP itself has become history.

M. Emad | 7 years ago | Reply Whar was Pakistan People’sParty (PPP) leader Mairaj Muhammad Khan's role in the 1971 dismemberment of Pakistan ?

Replying to X