Senior PPP leader and former senator Rehman Malik passed away on Wednesday in Islamabad due to coronavirus-related complications, his spokesperson Riaz Ali Turi confirmed. He was 70.<\/p>\n
“Deeply devastated to say that former interior minister [and] PPP’s senior leader, Abdul Rehman Malik, passed away,” he tweeted.<\/p>\n
Earlier this month, Malik was put on a ventilator after his health deteriorated due to Covid-related complications.<\/p>\n
Malik had tested positive for the coronavirus in January. At that time, his spokesperson said the former senator had initially been shifted to the intensive care unit of a private hospital in Islamabad after his condition deteriorated. However, his condition had continued to worsen and doctors subsequently put him on a ventilator on February 1.<\/p>\n
The spokesperson said the virus had affected Malik’s lungs and the former senator had been complaining of breathing problems after contracting Covid.<\/p>\n
Talking to the media, Malik’s nephew Waqas Malik said the former senator’s funeral prayers would be held at the mosque in Islamabad’s H-8 sector at 2:30pm tomorrow.<\/p>\n
Political career
\nRehman Malik obtained a master’s degree in statistics from the University of Karachi in 1973 and was awarded an honorary PhD from the same institution in 2012.<\/p>\n
He had a long career as a politician and held many portfolios, including his term as interior minister from 2008 to 2013.<\/p>\n
He was also a recipient of the Sitara-i-Shujaat for his services in the Federal Investigation Agency and the Nishan-i-Imtiaz.<\/p>\n
Leaders offer condolences
\nCondolences poured in from PPP stalwarts and political leaders from other parties on Malik’s passing.<\/p>\n
PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari paid tribute to Malik, saying he was a “hardworking and capable interior minister”.<\/p>\n
He added that Malik’s services to the country were unforgettable and the PPP leadership and workers shared in his family’s grief.<\/p>\n
Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed expressed his grief over news of the demise and extended condolences to the departed’s family.<\/p>\n
Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar offered his condolences on the former interior minister’s death.<\/p>\n
PPP Senator Saleem Mandviwalla said he was “deeply saddened” on hearing the news and praised his former peer as a “good man and amazing politician”.<\/p>\n
“Rehman Malik’s death is a great loss for the country’s politics. The vacuum created by Rehman Malik’s demise can never be filled,” he said, adding that his services for the PPP will always be remembered.<\/p>\n
“I am deeply saddened by the demise of former interior minister Rehman Malik. May God forgive him and grant patience to his family,” senior PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal tweeted.<\/p>\n
Sindh Local Bodies Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said Malik was a great leader and extended his condolences to the deceased’s family.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Senior PPP leader and former senator Rehman Malik passed away on Wednesday in Islamabad due to coronavirus-related complications, his spokesperson Riaz Ali Turi confirmed. He was 70. “Deeply devastated to say that former interior minister [and] PPP’s senior leader, Abdul Rehman Malik, passed away,” he tweeted. Earlier this month, Malik was put on a ventilator […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":246027,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[4370,579,364,4369],"class_list":{"0":"post-246024","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news","8":"tag-demise","9":"tag-islamabad","10":"tag-ppp","11":"tag-rehman-malik"},"yoast_head":"\n