KARACHI, July 20: Prominent lawyer Azizullah K. Shaikh, who was currently defending PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari in the Murtaza Bhutto murder case and Sardar Akhtar Mengal in an anti-terrorism case, died on Friday forenoon. He was 78.

After arguing a bail application in favour of his client, Mr Shaikh went to the first floor washroom of the Sindh High Court and fell down there.

The SHC dispensary doctor advised his junior associate, Noor Mohammad Saheto, to rush him to the NICVD but it took quite some time to arrange an ambulance. He was declared dead on arrival at the institute.

Besides holding Bar offices, Mr Shaikh served as principal of the S.M. Law College for nine years. In a brief political sojourn, he became president of the Sindh National Awami Party from 1971 to 1974 and drafted constitutional proposals on behalf of the NAP-JUI coalition.

Mr Shaikh also appeared as counsel for the former prime minister, Mian Nawaz Sharif, in his appeal against his conviction in the plane hijacking case.

On Friday, the lawyer sought bail for Imtiaz Javed, facing trial for smuggling 85 kilograms of heroin, an offence punishable with death, on medical grounds. A division bench comprising Justices Mohammad Moosa K. Leghari and Mohammad Afzal Soomro ordered the constitution of a medical board after hearing him and ANF counsel Syed Ashfaq Hussain Rizvi.

His funeral prayer will be held after Zuhr on Sunday at Masjid Sultan, DHA. He is survived by his widow, Mrs Adriana Shaikh, and three daughters.