April 06, 2008	Sunday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 28, 1429

ATTOCK, April 5: Veteran politician and senior parliamentarian Malik Allahyar Khan was laid to rest at his native Kunda village on Saturday evening.

The veteran politician died at Fauji Foundation Hospital on Friday night at the age of 85. He was admitted to the hospital about six months back after he suffered some neurology problem and underwent brain surgery.

Allahyar Khan has left behind a widow and two sons - additional secretary ministry of science and technology Malik Shehryar Khan and MPA Malik Aitbar Khan - to mourn his death.

His funeral prayer was attended by a large number of people from all walks of life. Prominent among them were former ministers Umar Ayub Khan, Raja Basharat, Sarwar Khan, Gohar Ayub, MPA Shujah Khanzada and PML-N leader Malik Sohail Khan.

As per family sources, Allahyar Khan worked as member of Pakistan’s first parliament from August 1947 to October 1954.

He was the senior most parliamentarian in the previous National Assembly and had been elected from NA-58 Attock-II in the 2002 elections by begging 89,108 votes out of a total 156,440 votes polled under the platform of PML-Q.

Later, he was appointed chairman Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the National Assembly. Mr Khan was famous for his honesty and political integrity.

Despite his affiliation with the PML-Q, he reportedly developed serious differences with the district nazim of Attock and filed a petition signed by 140 parliamentarians with the government to raise some accountability issues against the nazim.

Later, he formed a separate group during the last local government elections in coordination with Malik Amin Aslam, then minister of state for environment, named Ehtasab against Khatar group of district nazim Tahir Sadik Khan.

A few months before dissolution of the last National Assembly, Mr Allahyar suffered from a chronic disease which ultimately restricted him from taking part in the February 18 elections. Former chief minister Punjab Chaudhry Pervez Elahi won election from his traditional seat of NA-58 Attock-II in the election.

The PML-Q allotted ticket to his son Mr Aitbar for PP-19 Attock-V, which led to reconciliation with his political rivals, the district nazim.

Our Reporter adds: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has expressed grief and sorrow over the sad demise of veteran politician and parliamentarian Malik Allah Yar Khan.

Expressing his condolences over the telephone with his son, the prime minister mentioned about the contribution of Malik Allah Yar Khan to the parliamentary practices. The prime minister prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage and fortitude to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss.