KARACHI, Dec 26: Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan-Noorani (JUP-N) leader Prof Shah Faridul Haq passed away on Monday after a long illness. He was 78.

He leaves five daughters and three sons.

His funeral prayers will be held in Madni Masjid, Sardar Ali Sabri Road, Gulshan-i-Iqbal, at 2 pm on Tuesday.

Prof Haq was made president of JUP-N after the death of Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani in 2003 and also acted as vice-chairman of the World Islamic Mission.

Born in Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, India, in 1933, Shah Faridul Haq did his graduation from Agra University in 1952 and Master’s (Politics) and LLB from Aligarh University in 1954.

He migrated to Pakistan in 1955 and after practising law for some time taught political science at the Islamia College as lecturer and retired in 1968 as head of the department.

Prof Haq was also the founder principal of the Liaquat College.

In early 1970, he entered active politics and joined the JUP. The same year, he was elected a Sindh Assembly member and in 1972 he became the leader of the opposition in the house. He remained chairman and member of JUP’s central parliamentary board.

In 1977, Prof Haq was elected a National Assembly member from a Karachi constituency. He played an active role in the Tehreek Nizam-i-Mustafa.

He wrote several books on political science and contemporary constitutions.

Shah Faridul Haq also translated the Quran into the English language.