KARACHI, Sept 26 President of the Mazdoor Kissan Party Fatehyab Ali Khan passed away in a local hospital on Sunday. He was 76.

He has left behind his wife and two sons to mourn his death.

He was admitted to Aga Khan Hospital on Sept 23 after suffering a cardiac arrest.

Mr Khan was the first president of the students union of Karachi University, elected in 1962 following an amendment to its constitution. Earlier, the vice president's post was the most senior position in the union. As the chief of the union, he played a crucial role in reducing the three-year degree course to two years. He also was instrumental in getting college and university fees reduced.

It was due to this movement that 12 student leaders, including Mr Khan, were expelled from the city by the government. Mairaj Mohammad Khan, Husain Naqi, Jauhar Husain and Agha Jaffar were among his contemporaries.

In the 1964 general election, he supported Fatima Jinnah against Gen Ayub Khan.

He also played an important role in the Movement for Restoration of Democracy during the Gen Zia-ul-Haq regime.

After completing his education, he became a lawyer and married Dr Masooma Hasan, who was later posted as Pakistan's ambassador to Austria. Fatehyab Khan was also the chairman of the Pakistan Institute of International Affairs. Earlier, Dr Hasan was chairperson of the PIIA.

According to a television channel, his funeral prayers will be offered after Zohr prayers on Monday at a mosque near his residence in KDA Scheme 1.—Staff Reporter