UMERKOT: Syed Ali Mardan Shah, a former Sindh minister, member of the provincial assembly and Umerkot district president of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) died of cardiac arrest here on Sunday at the age of 65.

He is survived by a wife, a son and a daughter.

The Sindh PPP has announced a day of mourning and suspension of all party activities for Monday.

In their condolence messages, PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, provincial president Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, CM’s adviser Barrister Murtaza Wahab and other leaders expressed their shock and grief over the demise of “a brave and loyal fellow”.

Leaders of other political parties including MNA Lalchand Malhi of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) also condoled the former minister’s death.

Mardan Shah was a brother of Umerkot district council chairman Syed Noor Ali Shah and maternal uncle of Sindh Minister Syed Sardar Shah.The deceased had been elected an MPA for six times and once held the portfolio of minister for fisheries and population welfare.

Upon hearing the news of his death, businessmen and traders pulled down the shutters in Umerkot and a large number of his friends, party workers and supporters proceeded to his residence in Kharoro Syed village to offer their condolences to the bereaved family and take part in the funeral.

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2020