LAHORE: Senior leader of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and former Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar has passed away in Lahore. He was 74.
According to media reports, the veteran politician was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. He was admitted to the Shalimar Hospital where he passed away. Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar had undergone surgery in the United States some time ago.
Born in Lahore, Mukhtar was a graduate of Forman Christian College University. He studied Operational Management from California and a Diploma in Plastic Technology from West Germany.
He started his political career in 1990 as a member of the PPP and served as Commerce Minister in the 1993–1996 government of prime minister Benazir Bhutto. Ahmad Mukhtar took the role of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) chairman in May 2008.
He became the Defence Minister in the cabinet of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani after 2008 elections and also served as Minister of Water and Power. He had defeated PML-Q stalway Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain during the 2008 elections from NA-105 Gujrat constituency.
Former president Asif Ali Zardari and PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari have expressed grief over the demise of Ahmad Mukhtar and offered their condolences to the bereaved family.
Zardari called Mukhtar was a brave and loyal comrade and paid tribute to his services for the party. Bilawal said the deceased leader was an experienced politician as well as an asset to the party.
Federal Minister for Energy Omay Ayub Khan expressed his condolence and said he was deeply saddened to hear about his sad demise. He prayed for the departed soul for the strength to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss.
