KARACHI: Former Sindh governor and Pakistan Peoples Party’s senior me­­­mber Kamaluddin Azfar passed away on Monday after a protracted illness, his family and aides said. He was 85.

Mr Azfar is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.

Senior PPP leader Senator Waqar Mehdi said Mr Azfar was admitted to a private hospital in Clifton a few days ago where he passed away.

“His funeral prayers will be offered on Wednesday [May 28] on the premises of Abdullah Shah Gha­­zi shrine where he will be laid to rest,” he added.

Benazir Bhutto made him Sindh governor in 1995

Born in Febr­ua­­ry 1940 in Chand­auli district of the United Provinces, British India, Mr Azfar graduated from Go­­v­ernment College, Lahore. In 1960, he obtained an honours degree in philosophy, politics and economics from Balliol College, Oxford.

President Asif Ali Zardari expres­sed his deep sorrow and grief over Mr Azfar’s death, said a release issued by the Press Wing of Aiwan-i-Sadr. The president said that Mr Azfar had rendered valuable services for the PPP and Sindh.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari in a statement called Mr Azfar “a loyal aide of his mother” while expressing sympathies and condolence to the grieving family.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah expressed his “profound grief and sorrow” over the demise and said his political services would always be remembered.

Mr Azfar served as Sindh finance minister between June 1972 and Dec 1973. He joined the PPP in 1970 and was known as a close aide to former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. He also served as the president of PPP’s Karachi chapter.

He was appointed governor of Sindh in May 1995 by then prime minister Benazir Bhutto during one of the most turbulent and violent times in Karachi’s history.

Those were the days when the city was gripped by ethnic unrest that claimed hundreds of lives. Law enforcement agencies faced widespread criticism for allegedly staging ‘encounters’ targeting the PPP’s rival, the Mohajir Qaumi Move­m­ent — later renamed the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.

Mr Azfar served as the governor till March 1997.

PPP Senator Sherry Rehman recalled him as a committed activist and political figure of Karachi. “Grieved to see Barrister Kamaluddin Azfar pass away. He served in many positions including governor Sindh, and was a well-known activist as well as politician from Karachi, who worked closely with Shaheed Benazir Bhutto on local government policies among other initiatives. Prayers for his family and loved ones in this moment of loss,” she posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2025