PML-N leader Senator Mushahidullah Khan passes away aged 68

• Senator Mushahidullah Khan has passed away in Islamabad at the age of 68, confirmed PML-N leader Mohammad Zubair
• Zubair added that Senator Mushahidullah was unwell for quite a long time
• The late senator was a federal minister under the previous government and ranked among the PML-N's senior-most leaders

KARACHI: Senator Mushahidullah Khan passed away in Islamabad early Thursday morning.

The news was initially confirmed by PML-N leader Mohammad Zubair.

Senator Mushahidullah was unwell for quite a long time, Zubair said, who is also the spokesperson for PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz.

Mushahidullah used to come to the Senate sessions with great determination and courage, Zubair said, adding that the senator was a fearless man and stood firm against dictatorships.

The former Sindh governor added that the late senator, who was a federal minister under the previous government, was among the senior-most leaders of the party. His death, he said, is a great loss for his family, the PML-N and Pakistan.

'Huge loss'

Following Senator Mushahidullah's demise, Maryam said she was "shattered to hear the sad news".

"Senator Mushahidullah Khan, MNS’s loyal and exceptional companion left us. Will never be able to forget his fatherly affection & love. Huge huge loss.

"May Allah SWT shower upon him every blessing that HE has reserved for the afterlife. Ameen," she wrote on Twitter.

Senator Faisal Javed Khan of the ruling PTI also expressed grief over the death of Senator Mushahidullah and said that he will miss him dearly.

Senator Mushahidullah's funeral prayers were held after Zuhr in Islamabad's Sector H-11 on Thursday. 

Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, Azad Jammu Kashmir PM Raja Farooq Haider and former PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi were present along with a large number of political leaders and PML-N workers.

The senior PML-N leader was the chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Aviation and a member of the Council of Chairpersons and various others standing committees.

He was also part of the parliamentary committees on Appointment of Chief Election Commissioner and Members of the Election Commission of Pakistan, Kashmir, and National Security.