MARDAN: Pakistan People’s Party leader and former speaker of provincial assembly Abdul Akbar Khan passed away on Thursday after a protracted illness. Survived by two wives, one son and one daughter, the veteran politician was admitted to a private hospital in Islamabad wherein he underwent surgery of eyes, nose and ear, affected by cancer. However, he could not recover from the disease and passed away in the hospital.

His funeral prayers were offered at 3pm at his hometown Palodheray Speenkai of Rustam area. The funeral was attended by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker Asad Qaisar, PPP provincial president Eng Humayun Khan, Senator Khanzada Khan, MPA Tufail Anjum, Mardan district nazim Himayatullah Mayar and thousands of PPP workers hailing from different parts of the province. According to family sources, Abdul Akbar Khan got degrees in political science and law. He joined politics in 1970 during his student life. He remained close to PPP founder Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.

He was also imprisoned during the martial law of Gen Ziaul Haq. He contested elections on PPP tickets and was declared winner in the general elections of1988, 1990, 1993, 1996, 2002 and 2008. He was defeated by PTI candidate Tufail Anjum in the general polls of 2013.

Abdul Akbar Khan was elected deputy speaker and speaker of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly in 1988 and 1993 respectively. He also contested elections on NA-11 and PK-29 constituencies and won both the seats in general elections of 2008 but later he left the National Assembly seat against the wishes of PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari. The deceased was considered a seasoned and experienced politician. Leaders of different political parties expressed grief over his death and considered it a loss to the nation.

Meanwhile, in their separate statements issued in Peshawar, PPP leaders have condoled the death of Abdul Akbar Khan and described his demise unbearable loss to the province.

PPP president Eng Humayun Khan and Senator Khanzada Khan paid rich tributes to the late PPP leader and said that he proved to be loyal to the party in true sense.

They said he was a true parliamentarian with full knowledge of constitution.

Published in Dawn, January 13th, 2017