PTI stalwart Naeemul Haque laid to rest in Karachi

Politicians from the ruling party and the opposition attend funeral prayers

KARACHI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Naeemul Haque was laid to rest in the Gizri graveyard on Sunday, after he lost the struggle against cancer a day earlier. He was 70.

The funeral prayers, led by former senator Maulana Tanveerul Haq Thanvi, were held at Ayesha Masjid in Defence Housing Authority. Senior leaders of the party, including Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, National Assembly deputy speaker Qasim Suri and many others, attended the funeral and offered their condolences to the bereaved family.

Leaders from other political parties, including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz's (PML-N) Miftah Ismail and Rana Mashhood and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan's Wasim Akhtar and Khawaja Izharul Hassan, were also present, along with prominent officials such as Sindh police chief Dr Kaleem Imam.

Haque, who spent over three decades in politics, was the special assistant to the prime minister (SAPM) on political affairs and a member of PTI's core committee.

He had also served as the party's central information secretary and president of its Sindh chapter.

Tributes pour in

Prime Minister Imran Khan said he was 'devastated' by the passing of one of his oldest friends. "He was one of the 10 founding members of the PTI and by far the most loyal," he wrote in a tweet. "In 23 years of PTI's trials and tribulations, he stood by me. He was always there for support whenever we were at our lowest ebb."

The PM, who had visited Haque earlier this month to ask about his health, further said, "In the last two years, I saw him battle cancer with courage and optimism. Till the very end, he was involved in party affairs and attended cabinet meetings as long as he was able to. His passing has left an irreplaceable void."

SAPM on information Firdous Ashiq Awan, who arrived at Haque's residence ahead of the funeral prayers, paid rich tribute to the late party leader. "He had always played the role of a soldier for Prime Minister Khan, defending him at every turn and working tirelessly to turn his vision into reality," she told reporters. "He also raised his voice for the party workers and today we have come so his family can realise how much we value the services he rendered for the party."

Expressing appreciation for Haque's struggle for the right of law and promoting PM Khan's narrative, she said that he was a shining star for the PTI.

Speaking to the media outside Haque's residence, Federal Interior Minister Ijaz Ahmed Shah said that Haque had been a long-time partner of Prime Minister Khan.

"For two years, he battled a deadly disease, but he helped organise and rally the party for the elections that led to the formation of the government," he said. "The void left by him will not be filled."

Meanwhile, Suri said that the PTI had suffered a great loss with Haque's death, adding that he had always been by the prime minister's side.

"Politics has its own place, but moral values require that we condole with the grieving family, and so we are here to fulfil our national and religious responsibility," said PML-N's Miftah.

The PTI has suspended all political activities and announced three days of mourning over the demise of one of the party's founding members.

PTI Central vice president Zahid Hussain Kazmi announced that the party's central secretariat will remain open during this time for those coming to offer condolences. In addition, the party will pay tribute to its late leader and his services for the nation with memorial services and Quran Khwanis organised throughout the country, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 17^th, 2020.