KARACHI, Nov 4: Shah Mardan Shah Pir Pagara, who has a passion for horse racing, has voluntarily stepped down from the post of chairman, Racing Committee, Karachi Race Club (KRC), on health ground and has reconstituted a committee to oversee the equine sport.

Pir Pagara, whose affiliation with horse racing goes back to the early 1960s, has nominated his son Syed Sadruddin Shah Rashdi as his successor.

The former has, however, agreed to continue his patronage to the KRC.

The incumbent is an MPA from Khairpur and is the sitting Sindh Minister for Works and Communications.

Business tycoon Aqeel Karim Dhedhi has assumed the role of president in the eight-member committee. He has been a regular visitor to the KRC and is the sponsor of the AKD Cup.

The six other members of the committee are prominent owners of horses.

They include Tajammul Hussain Mirza, Kamal Farooq, Ahmed Chinoy, Haji Javed, Gul Mohammad Rajar and Irfan Mehdi.—AZ