Senior politician and former interior minister Rehman Malik passed away at the age of 70 on Wednesday morning. The PPP senator passed away after he developed Covid-19 related complications.
The PPP senator had been hospitalized in Islamabad as Covid severely affected his lungs, his spokesperson, Riaz Ahmad Turi, confirmed. Doctors had shifted him to a ventilator then.
Rehman Malik’s brother Khalid Malik confirming the death expressed deep sadness over Rehman Malik’s passing away.
Read more: Rehman Malik expresses security polling concerns for politicians following recent blasts
The late PPP senator served as the interior minister of the country from 2008 to 2013. Furthermore, he was one of the closest aides of late former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
Malik had received an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Karachi. Rehman Malik had also authored four books. He had also received Sitara-i-Shujaat and Sitara-i-Imtiaz.
Politicians express grief
Rehman Malik was a prominent figure in Pakistani politics. Leaders are mourning the loss of Rehman Malik and extending prayers to the family.
The Interior Minister of Pakistan Sheikh Rasheed expressed his grief over news of the demise and extended condolences to the departed’s family.
“I express my sorrow and grief over the demise of former Interior Minister and PPP leader Rehman Malik. Condolences to Rehman Malik’s family and other family members. I was saddened to hear the news of Rehman Malik’s demise. Equal partners in family grief,” Sheikh Rasheed tweeted.
دعا ہے اللہ تعالی مرحوم کو جنت میں اعلی مقام عطا فرمائے۔
اللہ تعالی رحمن ملک کے درجات بلند کرے۔
2/2— Sheikh Rashid Ahmed (@ShkhRasheed) February 23, 2022
Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry praised Rehman Malik. Fawad Chaudhry lauded Rehman’s Malik leadership during the investigation of the Hudaibiya Paper Mills case.
To clarify, the Sharif family allegedly used Hudaibiya Paper Mills as a cover to launder money outside the country in the 1990s.
“Rehman Malik passed away. Hudaibiya case was investigated under his leadership although justice has not been done yet, this investigation showed such modern methods of corruption that people were amazed,” Fawad Chaudhry tweeted.
رحمنٰ ملک انتقال کرگئے إِنَّا لِلَّٰهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ ، حدیبیہ کیس میں ان کی سربراہی میں تفتیش ہوئ اگرچہ اس پر انصاف ابھی تک نہیں ہوا لیکن اس تفتیش نے کرپشن کے ایسے ماڈرن طریقے ظاہر کئے کہ لوگ حیران رہ گئے، خدا غریق رحمت کرے
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) February 23, 2022
Moreover, PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal also prayed for Rehman Malik and his family.
“I am deeply saddened by the demise of former Interior Minister Rehman Malik. May Allah forgive him and grant patience to his family,” Ahsan Iqbal tweeted.
سابق وزیر داخلہ رحمن ملک کے انتقال پہ دلی صدمہ ہوا- اللہ تعالی ان کی مغفرت فرمائے اور ان کے اہل خانہ کو صبر جمیل عطا فرمائے آمین! pic.twitter.com/rCiz3WL6Pw
— Ahsan Iqbal (@betterpakistan) February 22, 2022
Furthermore, from the PPP side, MPA Sindh Assembly Mumtaz Ali Chandio called Rehman Malik’s death a great loss. “A huge loss indeed. May Allah rest his soul in peace. Heartfelt condolences to the family,” he tweeted.
Deeply saddened to hear of sudden demise of Senator #RehmanMalik. A huge loss indeed. May Allah swt rest his soul in peace. Heartfelt condolences to the family. pic.twitter.com/vXH8jJGoE0
— Mumtaz Ali Chandio PPP (@mumtazchandiomp) February 22, 2022
Read more: Rehman Malik demands Nawaz to retract his statement