RAWALPINDI: PTI activist and Insaf Lawyers Wing chairman Advocate Shahid Naseem Gondal passed away at the Military Hospital Rawalpindi on Saturday night following complications arising from Covid-19.

Gondal was also serving as the chief legal adviser of the Capital Development Authority.

According to his nephew, Ihteshamul Haq Matoo, the PTI leader was undergoing treatment for complications arising from Covid-19 for the last few days. He had confirmed that he had tested positive for Covid-19 last month in a statement on Facebook.

His nephew said funeral prayers would be held at his ancestral Matoo Sharif village in Mandi Bahauddin at 3pm.

In his tweet, Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed his grief over the sad demise of the PTI activist and said: “He was saddened to learn about Gondal’s death and remembered him for being “one of our most loyal workers who stood with us during our struggle against the political mafias’.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi also paid tributes to Gondal and termed him a selfless [and] committed PTI worker. He said the deceased had supported the party during ‘challenging times’ and his contribution and memory would never be forgotten.

Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari also shared her condolences and highlighted his contributions for the party and its workers.

Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2021