Former Karachi mayor Naimatullah Khan passes away at 90

Published February 25, 2020
Screengrab showing former Karachi mayor Naimatullah Khan. — DawnNewsTV/File
Screengrab showing former Karachi mayor Naimatullah Khan. — DawnNewsTV/File

Former Karachi mayor Naimatullah Khan passed away at the age of 90 on Tuesday.

Jamat-i-Islami naib ameer Dr Merajul Huda Siddiqui confirmed the news of Khan's passing. The former mayor was a longstanding member of the party.

The former mayor is survived by 12 children. According to his family, his funeral prayers will be held on Wednesday.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and Governor Sindh Imran Ismail expressed great sorrow at the former nazim's passing.

"He was responsible for rebuilding and renovating Karachi," Ismail said.

"When Naimatullah became Karachi's mayor, he worked on uplifting of the city and gave a master plan for its development," Siddiqui said.

"Besides this, Naimatullah also initiated welfare and philanthropist activities in drought hit areas of Thar. He also established a hospital in the area," Siddiqui said, while adding that he also initiated public interest litigation "against encroachment of Karachi's parks and other prominent areas facing China-cutting."

Sindh Minister for Education Saeed Ghani also expressed sorrow at the former mayor's passing and said that Khan's services as city mayor can never be forgotten.

"Khan's various welfare projects are still bearing fruit," Ghani said.

Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar took to Twitter to express his sorrow at Khan's demise.

"May Allah grant eternal #Peace to the departed soul, and strength to the bereaved family," he said.

President Arif Alvi also tweeted his condolence and prayed for the departed soul.

Khan was the mayor of Karachi from 2001 to 2005. He resigned from office in June 2005, and was not re-elected in Pakistan's next local city elections.

He was a lawyer by profession and also chaired the Alkhidmat Foundation. He graduated from Punjab University with a Masters in Journalism and law degree from Karachi University.

Opinion

Editorial

Punishing evaders
02 May, 2024

Punishing evaders

THE FBR’s decision to block mobile phone connections of more than half a million individuals who did not file...
Engaging Riyadh
Updated 02 May, 2024

Engaging Riyadh

It must be stressed that to pull in maximum foreign investment, a climate of domestic political stability is crucial.
Freedom to question
02 May, 2024

Freedom to question

WITH frequently suspended freedoms, increasing violence and few to speak out for the oppressed, it is unlikely that...
Wheat protests
Updated 01 May, 2024

Wheat protests

The government should withdraw from the wheat trade gradually, replacing the existing market support mechanism with an effective new one over the next several years.
Polio drive
01 May, 2024

Polio drive

THE year’s fourth polio drive has kicked off across Pakistan, with the aim to immunise more than 24m children ...
Workers’ struggle
Updated 01 May, 2024

Workers’ struggle

Yet the struggle to secure a living wage — and decent working conditions — for the toiling masses must continue.