Dubai: With the death of Jahangir Bader on Sunday night, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has lost its mentor.
Bader, 72. died of cardiac arrest at a Lahore hospital where he was brought two days ago due to kidney and cardiac complications. Bader was among the close aides of former slain Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto and was one of the founding members of the PPP.
He met founder of PPP Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto in 1967 even before the inception of the PPP and joined Bhutto as a student leader in the struggle for democracy in Pakistan and fought for the rights of poor people.
Bader who served as central secretary general of the PPP for several years and also president of the PPP Punjab, was a pioneer of the PPP. He is survived by his wife and two sons.
His son Ali Bader said his father was placed in the ICU, where doctors tried their best to save his life, but he could not recover.
Bader was probably the only non-controversial PPP leader who was respected by all political parties and known for his towering personality. His funeral held at the largest public park Bag-e-Jinnah in Lahore on Monday saw attendance of thousands of people from all walks of life and leaders from all political parties.
A typical Lahori living in the old walled-city, Bader was a master of street politics.
Bader was elected member of the National Assembly in 1988 from Lahore when Benazir Bhutto became the first woman prime minister of Pakistan. Bhutto appointed him as Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources.
He was born on October 25, 1944. His association with PPP spanned more than four decades. He was also elected senator in 1994 and 2009.
He was arrested during the governments of Martial Law administered by General Ayub Khan, General Yahya Khan and was detained a number of times by General Zia-Ul-Haq and General Musharraf’s regimes.
Bader was so much in love with the PPP ideology that he got his doctoral degree after completing a thesis on the political struggle of Benazir Bhutto in 2013.
PPP announced three days of mourning.
Condolence messages poured in on social media as well. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari expressed deep grief and sorrow over the demise of Bader. “Bader was a jiyala (diehard worker) par excellence who fought against ruthless martial laws from the forefront, braved imprisonments and torture, but stood steadfast and committed to Bhuttoism under Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto and through the party’s struggle till date,” said Bilawal.
“Shocked to hear the sad news. Uncle JB. never imagined taking this journey without you. Inshallah we will make you proud,” Bilawal also tweeted.
Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz Sharif paid tribute to Bader and said the contributions of Badar towards strengthening of Pakistani politics would always be held in great esteem.
“He was a great political asset who believed and worked for the promotion of democratic norms in our country. He will be dearly missed by every Pakistani; above all political divide”, added the Prime Minister,”
Human rights activist Asma Jahangir tweeted: “Bader leaves us today. Recognised for empowering political workers and in mobilising people for democracy Leader and worker.”
Punjab Chief Minister, Shahbaz Sharif said in his tweet: “Shocking news about Jahangir Bader-A committed political worker who made his way up from lower rung of politics. May his soul rest in peace!”
PPP Co Chairman Asif Ali Zardari also tweeted: “He relentlessly worked and fought for PPP, he struggled heroically and was imprisoned during dictators Zia’s rule but stood by Shaheed Benazir Bhutto.”
