LOWER DIR: Pakistan Peoples Party Malakand division president and former provincial minister Bakht Baidar Khan of Tanao Adenzai passed away here on Friday. He was 70.

Bakht Baidar suffered a heart attack four days ago and he was taken to a hospital in Islamabad. Later, he was admitted to a private hospital in Peshawar where he breathed his last.

The deceased was active in politics since his student life. He was twice elected as member of the district council, first in 1979 and then in 1983.

He led the PPP in his area and was elected as MPA in 1993 and remained provincial minister twice.

When Aftab Sherpao parted ways with PPP, Bakht Baidar also joined him and became general secretary of Qaumi Watan Party.

He was also elected as MPA on QWP ticket in 2013 general elections and became a provincial minister in the PTI-led coalition government.

Later, he was sacked by the PTI leadership over corruption charges, but he challenged the case in the court and filed a defamation suit against PTI chief Imran Khan.

Bakht Baidar rejoined PPP in May 2018.

PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto, co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and provincial president Najmuddin Khan in their separate statements had condoled the death of Bakht Baidar Khan.

Published in Dawn,June 18th, 2022