LAHORE: Controversial businessman Seth Abid died after a brief illness at a hospital in Karachi on Friday night. He was about 85 years old, according to his nephew Yasser Mahmood.

“Seth Abid is no more. He was shifted to a hospital in Karachi by the family for medical treatment. But he couldn’t survive,” Mahmood confirmed to Dawn.

“Funeral prayers will be held in Karachi, most probably after Asr prayers on Saturday (today). He will be buried there,” he added.

Based in Lahore and Karachi, Seth Abid was said to be among the 30 richest persons of the country. Besides running various businesses successfully, he had also launched various charity projects.

He had reportedly been in a state of grief after the death of his son, Hafiz Ayaz Ahmad, who was gunned down by a security guard in a housing scheme near Shaukat Khanum Hospital in Lahore in 2006.

Hailing from Kasur, Seth Abid left behind three sons and three daughters to mourn his death. “My aunt (Seth Abid’s wife) died a few years ago,” Mahmood added.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2021