ISLAMABAD, Dec 11: President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali on Thursday expressed grief over the demise of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal chief Senator Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani.

In a condolence message, the president said he was deeply grieved to learn about the death of the Maulana and paid tribute to him for his services for Pakistan and contribution to national politics.

He recalled Maulana Noorani’s lifetime devotion to religious learning and teaching.

The prime minister, in his message, paid tribute to Maulana Noorani’s political, religious and academic contributions and said his services and farsightedness would be long remembered.

He said Maulana Noorani always worked with honesty and sincerity and devoted his life to nation building.

In his death, the country had lost a renowned scholar and a sagacious parliamentarian, he said.

Prime Minister Jamali remembered the Maulana’s invaluable services in the dissemination of religious education within the country and abroad and in creating harmony in domestic politics. His soft, humble and refined attitude had won hearts of the people, he said.

He said the vacuum created in the religious, political and educational circles would be difficult to fill.

The president and the prime minister prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul and fortitude to the family to bear the loss with equanimity.—APP