25 January 2004	Sunday	02 Zilhaj 1424

LAHORE, Jan 24: A former federal minister and ambassador, Makhdoom Syed Hamid Raza Gillani, passed away here on Saturday at the age of 67. His body was taken to Multan for burial.

The Makhdoom, according to PML-Q MNA Ishaq Khan Khakwani, had undergone heart surgery some 12 days back at the Punjab Institute of Cardiology but could not fully recover from it.

"Once he underwent the cardiac surgery, he never really recovered. His kidneys were also not functioning properly," Mr Khakwani says.

The veteran politician from Multan was educated at Aitchison College, Lahore, and Lincoln's Inn, London. He entered politics at a young age in the early 1962 when he was returned to the National Assembly from Shujabad, Multan, on a Muslim League ticket.

He was also returned to the 1965 assembly but lost to a PPP candidate in 1970.

He joined the PPP in 1972 and was sent to Kenya as Pakistan's ambassador - a position he held till 1976 - by late prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

He again returned to the National Assembly in 1977 and was made federal industries minister till the ouster of the PPP government by Gen Ziaul Haq on July 5 the same year.

The Makhdoom formally parted ways with the PPP for contesting the partyless 1985 elections and joined the Muslim League led by late prime minister Mohammad Khan Junejo. He served the Junejo government as a minister. He lost the 1988 polls, the last election contested by him, on a Muslim League ticket. In 1990 he was sent to the Senate from Punjab by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

The Makhdoom was a cousin of former National Assembly speaker and PPP leader Makhdoom Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani.

He is survived by his widow, son Syed Mohammad Raza Gillani and four daughters.

Funeral prayers will take place at the Nishtar Medical College Ground, Multan, at 2pm on Sunday.