In remembrance: Larkana politician Altaf Unar dies at 55

The former revenue minister was suffering from a kidney-related disease.

KARACHI: At the age of 55, Haji Altaf Hussain Unar, a renowned political figure of Larkana, passed away at his residence in Karachi on Thursday night. He left behind six daughters and three sons.

His body was brought to his native village Aliabad, near Baqrani, where he was buried on Friday evening. Thousands of people from the area, political and social figures, including MPA Sardar Jam Khan Tamachi and MPA Sohrab Sarki, attended the funeral. All businesses were suspended in all towns adjacent to Baqrani, including Aliabad and Arija, soon after the news of Unar's death spread in the area.

Unar, who was a diabetic, was suffering from a kidney-related disease and according to his family, he was visiting Karachi for dialysis.

Unar was also famous for holding jirgas not only in Larkana but also in other adjacent districts. In 1979, Unar was elected as the chairperson of the Ushr and Zakaat committee for Dokri taluka. He won the elections of 1997, 2002 and 2013 to become a member of Sindh Assembly.

Unar was the minister for revenue and relief during Pervez Musharraf's tenure. He was the senior vice-president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid.

He was also the first political figure in Larkana district who was arrested soon after the Pakistan People Party (PPP) government came into power. After the bail, he left Pakistan and came back in early 2012. He joined the PPP on June 21, 2012, when the PPP's leadership approached him. Unar joined the party in the presence of Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, MNA Faryal Talpur and Agha Siraj Durrani in Larkana.

Unar was being considered the only person in Larkana who gave a tough time to the PPP candidates in his area of influence.

He won the provincial constituency PS-35 Baqrani as a PPP candidate but the Sukkur election tribunal disqualified him on February 26 and ordered a re-poll.

Sindh chief minister and former president, Asif Ali Zardari, sent condolence messages to his family over his sudden death.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 8^th, 2014.