KARACHI – Veteran politician and senior Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Makhdoom Amin Fahim died in the early hours of Saturday at a local private hospital in Karachi, state-owned Radio Pakistan reported.
He had earlier undergone lump surgery in Berlin. He was to be taken to Boston in October but doctors dropped the plan after his condition did not permit. He remained under post-surgery treatment in London until he was flown to Dubai and then eventually to Karachi. He was hospitalized in Karachi at a private hospital and was said to be in critical condition.
Amin Fahim was born on 4 August, 1939 in Sindh’s city of Hala. He belonged to an influential feudal family. Amin Fahim was one of the closest confidants of ex-Prime Minister and slain PPP leader Benazir Bhutto. He was Benazir’s key advisor during General Musharraf’s era, when Benazir had left the country and was living in a self-imposed exile.
During the PPP’s different stints in power, Amin Fahim held several Federal Ministerial positions. in 2008, he was appointed as the Federal Minister of Commerce.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has expressed deep grief and sorrow over the sad demise of Mr. Makhdoom Amin Fahim, has prayed for eternal peace and tranquillity for the departed soul and commiserated with the bereaved family.
Ex-president Asif Ali Zardari has expressed grief over the sad departure of PPP stalwart. He also termed his demise a big loss after Benazir Bhutto’s murder. He said that Fahim was PPP’s invaluable asset.
Fahim’s body is being transported to his hometown of Hala, where his funeral prayers will be offered in the afternoon.
Condolences started to pour in with several politicians voicing their grief over the demise of the senior leader.