PESHAWAR: Arbab Akbar Hayat, the only MPA of PML-N from Peshawar, passed away due to cardiac arrest here on Wednesday. He was 47.

He belonged to Khazana village and had won polls from PK-8 constituency of provincial assembly, comprising the outskirts of Peshawar, in 2013 general elections. He was the only opposition member from Peshawar as rest of the provincial assembly seats in the provincial capital were won by the candidates PTI.

The deceased lawmaker actively served the people of his constituency. Family sources said that he was shifted to Lady Reading Hospital after he complained of severe chest pain. He breathed his last in the hospital.

He was laid to rest at his ancestral graveyard in Khazana area on Charsadda Road, Peshawar. People belonging to different walks of life participated in his funeral prayers.

The leaders of various political parties including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, Minister for Mines, Mineral Development and Labour Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli, Senior Minister Sikandar Hayat Khan Sherpao and PML-N district president Abdul Sattar Khalil condoled death of the lawmaker.

Mr Jhagra in a separate statement on Wednesday expressed his deep condolence and sorrow over the sad demise of the PML-N lawmaker in the provincial assembly.

Showing sympathies with the members of the bereaved family, the governor also prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and courage to the bereaved family to bear the irreparable loss with patience. He expressed his heartfelt grief and sorrow over the sad demise.

The governor also paid rich tributes to the services, which the deceased had rendered for strengthening democracy, welfare of people, saying that his services would be remembered for long.

Published in Dawn, March 17th, 2016