KARACHI: Shah Turab-ul-Haq Qadri, Karachi chief of the Jammaat Ahl-i-Sunnat, passed away here on Thursday. He was 70.

Although regarded as a senior religious scholar, Turab-ul-Haq was also seen as a key figure in political circles of religious parties representing the Barelvi school of thought and always had been in the forefront of the parties belonging to the sect.

“He had been undergoing dialysis for the past more than two years,” said a party spokesman.

“His all activities — both political and religious — had almost come to an end for the past few years due to the deteriorating health conditions. He was admitted to a private hospital for treatment, where he died on Thursday afternoon.”

He leaves five daughters and three sons.

Born in Hyderabad Deccan in 1946, he migrated to Karachi in 1951 and spent early life in Korangi. Apart from his known association with the Dar-ul-Uloom Amjadia, he was the patron-in-chief and senior faculty member of several seminaries in the city belonging to the Barelvi school of thought.

His political career started with the Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan (Noorani), but he parted company with the party in 1980s after becoming a member of the National Assembly in the non-party elections held under General Zia-ul-Haq’s rule.

He played a key role in various movements of religious parties in the country, including Tehreek-i-Khatme Nabuwwat and Tehreek-i-Nizam-i-Mustafa. He had also served as chairman of the central Ruet-i-Hilal committee.

The condolence messages started pouring in over his demise as Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed his condolences with the deceased’s family.

His funeral prayers would be held outside the Memon Masjid near Boulton Market after Friday prayers, said the party’s spokesman adding that later he would be buried in Kharadar, Khori Garden, besides the grave of Allama Qari Mohammed Muslehuddin Siddiqui.

Published in Dawn, October 7th, 2016