KARACHI, Sept 21: Begum Zafar Bano, Khwaja Nazimuddin’s only daughter, died suddenly in Karachi on Friday morning. She was 82. She felt unwell after taking sehri and died on the way to hospital.

She had the privilege of performing the duties of the first lady twice — once when Khwaja Nazimuddin was governor general and then when he was prime minister, because Begum Nazimuddin observed pardah.

Khwaja Nazimuddin’s family — Begum Nazimuddin, Begum Zafar Bano, Khwaja Mohiuddin and Khwaja Saifuddin — moved to Karachi before the secession of East Pakistan. Begum Nazimuddin died in Karachi while Khwaja Mohiuddin migrated to Australia. Khwaja Saifuddin lives in Karachi with his family.

It is a measure of Khwaja Nazimuddin family’s love for Pakistan that none of his family members went back to Bangladesh even to claim their moveable and immoveable assets worth millions of rupees.

Begum Zafar Bano leaves behind a son, Major (retd) Safi Wasiuddin, and a daughter, Ambreen Rahman. The son lives in Quetta and the daughter in Dubai. Both of them are now in Karachi

She was laid to rest at the Defence (Gizri) Graveyard in the evening. Condolences will be received at 48/1, Khyban-i-Badr, DHA Phase V. Phones: 5350885/6 and 5832235