ISLAMABAD: Senate proceedings were delayed by 40 minutes after parliamentarians were informed of an attack on the convoy of Deputy Chairman Senate Abdul Ghafoor Haideri in Mastung on Friday in which Director Staff Senate Iftikhar Mughal was killed.

Senate proceedings had started per scheduled and the meeting was to resume at 2:30pm after a break was taken at noon.

Just after Friday prayers, parliamentarians got news of the attack on Mr Haideri’s convoy in Balochistan as it was leaving a seminary in which some 25 people were killed and over 40 injured.

Senate proceedings started 40 minutes late with Chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani starting with a confirmation of Iftikhar Mughal’s death.

In his late 40s, Iftikhar Mughal had worked in the upper house for some two decades and was one of the most popular employees due to his politeness and friendly and helpful attitude.

“He was from Balakot and had three children. He had also adopted a boy and a girl because he believed that if every well-off person adopts one or two children and educates them, most of the problems of the country will be solved,” an official of the Senate, Ramazan Sajid told Dawn.

“He educated the boy he adopted and also helped him get a government job. The girl he adopted used to work as a maid in a relative’s house. He also enrolled her in school,” Mr Sajid said.

Iftikhar Mughal’s brother, Dildar Fani told Dawn his brother would often help people out hoping he will be rewarded in the hereafter.

“My brother’s body has been identified and it has not been decided if it should be brought via PIA or a C-130 due to bad weather. The corps commander and Mr Rabbani visited the house and assured us all possible steps will be taken to bring the body at the earliest. We have decided to bury him in our native village,” he said.

Mr Fani said Iftikhar Mughal’s eldest daughter is a student of third year MBBS, one of his sons is in the eighth grade and the youngest is in the third grade.

Published in Dawn, May 13th, 2017