PPP stalwart Rehman Malik passes away at 70

ISLAMABAD: Senior politician and former interior minister Rehman Malik passed away at the age of 70 on Wednesday morning.

The PPP senator had been hospitalised in Islamabad as he had developed COVID-19-related complications and his lungs had been severely affected, his spokesperson, Riaz Ahmad Turi, had said.

He is survived by his widow and two sons.

Malik had tested positive for coronavirus around almost a month ago. He was put on the ventilator after his health condition deteriorated due to the virus-related complications.

The PPP senator, who had received an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Karachi, served as the interior minister of the country from 2008 to 2013. He was one of the closest aides of former premier Benazir Bhutto.

Condolences

Following the news of his demise, condolences started pouring in from all political circles of the country. 

"I am saddened to hear the news of Rehman Malik's demise. May Allah Almighty grant him a high rank in paradise," Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed tweeted.

Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan said that one word that comes to his mind for Malik is "humble."

Expressing his grief, Adviser to Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan said the news of the death of Rehman Malik, who was his cabinet colleague and old fellow, came as a shock. 

Taking to his official Twitter handle, Speaker of the National Assembly Asad Qaiser wrote: "I pray to Allah Almighty to elevate the ranks of the deceased and grant patience to the bereaved."

Senator and senior PPP leader Sherry Rehman alos expressed her condolences.

"I am deeply saddened by the demise of former interior minister Rehman Malik. May Allah forgive him and grant patience to his family," PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal wrote on Twitter.

"Deeply saddened to hear of the sudden demise of Senator #RehmanMalik. A huge loss indeed. May Allah swt rest his soul in peace. Heartfelt condolences to the family," stated MPA Sindh Assembly Mumtaz Ali Chandio.

PML-N leader Hina Butt also expressed grief over the death of Rehman Malik.

Malik's brief history

He completed his master's degree in statistics from the University of Karachi in 1973 and was awarded an honorary PhD from the same institution in 2012.

The deceased had a long career as a politician and held many portfolios, including his term as interior minister from 2008 to 2013.

Owing to his services, the government of Pakistan had awarded him with one of the highest civilian awards in the country — Sitara-e-Shujat (the Star of Bravery). He also received one of the most prestigious civil decorations — the Nishan-e-Imtiaz (the Order of Excellence) — from the state.