LARKANA, Jan 12: Nawab Nabi Bukhsh Khan Bhutto, the father of SNF chief, Mumtaz Bhutto, passed away in village Mirpur Bhutto near Ratodero on Saturday at the age of 98.

He remained in the forefront of Sindh politics in the pre- partition era. He was elected the president of District Local Board, Larkana, in 1934 and remained continuously for 11 years its chief. Between 1929 and 1932, he was a member of the legislative council of Bombay of which Sindh was then a part. He was also elected a member of Indian legislative assembly for 10 years between 1924 and 1934 and secured the highest votes from Sindh for the election.

After defeating Mohammed Ayub Khuhro, Nawab Bhutto became the president of the District Local Board. In 1945 he defeated PML’s sitting minister, Qazi Fazulluah, from Ratodero-Mirokhan seat and became the member of Sindh Assembly. He remained MPA till 1952 when he retired from politics.

He always contested elections as an independent candidate and never lost.

When Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah visited Larkana in Oct 1938, he stayed at the residence of Nawab Bhutto.

Nawab Nabi Bukhsh Bhutto led a lavish lifestyle with maintaining close relations with Rajas and Nawabs of Indian states and keeping dogs and horses as a hobby.

He was laid to rest in his ancestral graveyard in the village Mirpur Bhutto.

He left behind three sons, Mumtaz Ali Bhutto, Haji Mashooq Bhutto, Ashique Bhutto, and eight married daughters.