LAHORE: Veteran politician and one of the founding members of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Dr Mubashir Hasan, passed away at his residence in Lahore on Saturday. He was 98.
Dr Hasan had been unwell and under treatment for the past three days. Hasan was close confidante of PPP founder and former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who laid the foundation stone of the PPP at Dr Hasan’s residence in Lahore.
Along with J.A. Rahim and S. Mohammad Rashid, Hasan founded the PPP as democratic socialist political force. He was one of the main architects behind organising the PPP across Pakistan. He was also one of the contributors to PPP’s first-ever manifesto.
He was elected as a member of the National Assembly in 1970 and served as finance minister in Bhutto’s cabinet from 1971-74. In 1972, he helped in establishing the Ministry of Science. He also helped establish the Kahuta Research Laboratories and secure funding for Pakistan’s nuclear program.
Later, Dr Hasan developed differences with the PPP when Benazir Bhutto became chairperson left to join Ghinwa Bhutto’s PPP-Shaheed Bhutto but resigned three years ago.
Dr Hasan was also one of the founding members of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and the Pakistan-India People’s Forum for Peace and Democracy.
Besides being a seasoned politician, he was a civil engineer, scientist, journalist and analyst and author of over 10 books. After the removal of Z.A. Bhutto by the military, Hassan became inactive in political circles.
The PPP’s Punjab chapter expressed condolences on Dr Hasan’s death. PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira said Hasan “became the voice of the oppressed”, adding that his services for the people would always be remembered.
Dr Hasan’s funeral will be held at his residence in Lahore’s Gulberg at 5pm on Saturday. He is survived by his wife.
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