Popular TV host and politician Aamir Liaquat is no more

Member of National Assembly (MNA) and television host Aamir Liaquat has passed away in Karachi, Geo News reported Thursday.

He was 50 years old.

The PTI leader was found unconscious at his home in Khudad Colony and shifted to a private hospital in critical condition.

Liaquat reportedly felt chest discomfort last night but refused to go to the hospital. His employee, Javed, said a scream was heard from Liaquat's room today morning. 

His domestic staff broke down his room's door when they did not receive any reply from him, Geo News reported.

Later, the doctors said that Liaquat was dead when he was brought to the hospital.

NA session adjourned

The National Assembly session was underway when Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf told lawmakers that he had received a sad report about the death of Aamir Liaquat Hussain.

He then announced to stop the NA proceedings immediately and adjourned the session till 5pm tomorrow.

Police initiates investigation into Aamir Liaquat's death

Meanwhile, the police have started an investigation into the death of the PTI leader and conducted a search at his home in Karachi's Khudadad Colony. SSP East said the police will also obtain CCTV footage to ascertain the facts leading to his death.

The authorities have decided to conduct a post-mortem as he died under mysterious circumstances.

East SSP said that the police examined Liaquat’s house and everything was in place. However, the police cordoned off his bedroom after collecting evidence. Police said that the family’s permission has been acquired for an autopsy after which a report will be prepared on the cause of death.

Moreover, the police will take the statement of Amir's driver Javed, who had informed the police about the incident first.

A time for Liaquat’s funeral prayers will be announced later, Geo News reported.

Politicians offer condolences 

PM Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over Amir's death and prayed for his forgiveness.

"May Allah raises the ranks of the deceased and give patience to the mourning family," he said.

Taking to Twitter, President Arif Alvi expressed grief and sorrow over Hussain’s death. He prayed for the forgiveness of the deceased and his high ranks.

He expressed sympathy and patience towards the deceased’s family. The president prayed that may Allah give his family the strength to bear the loss.

Taking to Twitter, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari expressed deep sorrow over the demise of Hussain.

"Aamir Liaquat Hussain led a dynamic life from journalism to politics. He proved his mettle in various fields of life from writing and speech," he wrote.

Profile: The career of televangelist and politician Aamir Liaquat Hussain

Aamir Liaquat Hussain was born on July 5, 1971, in Karachi, to politician Sheikh Liaquat Hussain and columnist Mahmooda Sultana.

A young Hussain began his career as a televangelist when he joined Geo Television in 2001, hosting the religious program, Aalim Online. He left Geo TV in 2010 and went on to host several Ramzan transmission and game shows on other private broadcasters.

In 2002, he contested his first election on a ticket of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement for the parliamentary constituency of NA-249 in Karachi.

After winning, he was inducted into the cabinet of then prime minister Shaukat Aziz as the Minister of State for Religious Affairs. Hussain served as a minister of state from 2004 to 2007 until he was asked to resign by his political party.

In 2018, the television star and politician again contested the election for the national assembly constituency NA-245 in Karachi and won. But this time Hussain was in the running from the platform of Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.

He parted away with the PTI in April this year, during the time Khan was facing a vote of no confidence from the opposition parties.

Hussain has been married thrice.