KARACHI, Nov 14: Maulana Jamaluddin Abdul Wahhab Farangi Mahali, a leading spiritual, literary and political figure of the country, passed away in Karachi on Wednesday at the age of 93.

According to the family, Jamal Mian, as he was popularly known, passed away peacefully at his Clifton residence.

He had not been keeping well for a few years.

The funeral will take place on Thursday at 4pm at his residence (F-32, Block 4, Clifton) while Jamal Mian will be laid to rest in the Gizri graveyard.

Belonging to the famed Farangi Mahal family of ulema and Sufis, Jamal Mian was born in Lucknow in 1919 in the same structure from which the family derives its name.

He was elected to the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly in 1946 and served as the Muslim League’s honorary assistant secretary for a period.

It is said Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah thought highly of him, especially of his considerable oratory skills.

After independence Jamal Mian remained in India, though circumstances soon led to him to shift to Dhaka, then capital of Pakistan’s eastern wing.

Yet the stay in erstwhile East Pakistan would not be permanent, as a few months before the creation of Bangladesh in 1971 the Sufi and scholar moved to Karachi, this time for good.

Jamal Mian represented Pakistan at the Rabita al-Alam al-Islami, or the Muslim World League, though after his move to Karachi he largely dis-associated himself with politics, concentrating on his literary and spiritual pursuits.

He was known for his enduring friendship with Maulana Hasrat Mohani.

Jamal Mian leaves behind seven children along with a large number of friends and disciples to mourn his death. His wife had passed away in 2009.