Azam Hoti laid to rest in Mardan

Politicians, ANP leaders attend funeral, offer condolences.

PESHAWAR/ MARDAN: The funeral prayers for senior Awami National Party leader Azam Hoti were held at Hoti House in Mardan on Wednesday and attended by various political leaders and social activists.

The late senator was laid to rest in his hujra in Mardan, next to the grave of his late mother.

Even though Azam Hoti had hurled serious allegations against ANP leaders in 2013, a large number of the party’s integral central, provincial and district leaders showed up on Wednesday to offer condolences. ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan and parliamentary leader Sardar Hussain Babak were also present to bid farewell to their party confederate.

Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Raja Zafarul Haq, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MNA Mujahid Khan, PML-N leader Khawaja Muhammad Khan Hoti, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl K-P General Secretary Shujul Mulk, Pakistan Peoples Party leader Rahim Dad Khan also attended the funeral.

Family ties

Begum Naseem Wali Khan, Awami National Party-Wali (ANP-W) chairperson and the deceased’s sister, was also there to bid her brother farewell.

A large number of his relatives who were affiliated with the ANP attended his last rites. They lauded Azam’s political acumen, saying the leader had not achieved popularity and acclaim by simply using family connections to his advantage. “He once said that he was not credited the way others were for bringing development to the province,” one of his relatives at the funeral told The Express Tribune. “But he was not bitter about this.”

Condolences

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, President Mamnoon Hussain, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and the K-P governor called the deceased’s son, former K-P chief minister Amir Haider Hoti, to offer their condolences.

According to a handout issued by the CM Secretariat on Wednesday, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has also voiced his grief over Azam’s demise.

Waiting for a green signal

Ghazan Hoti, the deceased’s son who has been in jail over the infamous weapons scam, had requested the home department for permission to attend his father’s funeral, insiders told The Express Tribune. However, Ghazan could not make it to the burial.

Officials said he has requested the department to release him for three days so he could visit Mardan to mourn with his family. When contacted, an official of Central Prison Peshawar said the jail authorities were not authorised to release Ghazan until the home department issued directions in this regard. “The decision has yet to be taken by the home department,” he said. “So far, we have not received any orders to release him on parole for three days.” Azam passed away in Mardan on Wednesday after a protracted battle with throat cancer at the age of 69.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 16^th, 2015.