ISLAMABAD: Mr. Gohar Ayub Khan, former Speaker National Assembly of Pakistan and former Foreign Minister, passed away peacefully after a brief illness on Friday. He was 86.
Omar Ayub Khan, Secretary General Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and former Federal Minister, shared the sad demise of his father on social media.
Mr. Gohar Ayub Khan Former Speaker National Assembly of Pakistan and former Foreign Minister, passed away peacefully after a brief illness. He was the father of Omar Ayub Khan, Secretary General Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and former Federal Minister. His Namaz-e-Janaza will be… pic.twitter.com/IEaJKbNgXV
— Omar Ayub Khan (@OmarAyubKhan) November 17, 2023
He said that the Namaz-e-Janaza will be offered tomorrow at 3:00 pm on Saturday, 18th November, 2023 at Village Rehana, District Haripur.
Qul will be offered at 11 am at Omar Ayub Khan’s residence Main G.T Road Haripur on 19th November, 2023.
Gohar Ayub Khan was a politician, business oligarch, retired army officer, and conservative figure of the Pakistan Muslim League, who held ministerial positions during the administration of prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
Gohar Ayyub would be remembered for his strong role played to convince the then prime minister Nawaz Sharif to go nuclear in response to Indian nuclear tests in 1998. India conducted nuclear tests on 11th and 13th of May 1998 while Pakistan responded with five tests on May 28, 1998 despite international pressure.
Gohar Ayub Khan hails from the village of Rehana, located in the Haripur District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and belongs to the Tareen tribe of ethnic Pashtuns. He is the son of former president and field marshal Ayub Khan and played an influential role in sustaining his father’s presidential rule after the 1965 presidential election.
Educated at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, after graduation Gohar Ayub Khan was commissioned in the Pakistan Army in 1959. During his military service he served as his father’s aide-de-camp, travelling with him on several foreign trips. Upon his resignation in 1962 with the rank of captain, he established a business conglomerate and entered in politics in 1974.
He first contested the 1977 general election through the Independence Movement platform, but later joined the Islamic Democratic Alliance (IDA) in 1988. After the 1990 general election he was appointed as the fourteenth speaker of the National Assembly.
He became the 20th minister of Foreign Affairs after securing his seat with a heavy margin in the 1997 general election. Later he shifted to the energy department, serving as Minister for Water and Power beginning 7 August 1998. His term abruptly ended on 12 October 1999, by General Pervez Musharraf, and he subsequently retired from national politics.
Condolences pour inÂ
Expressing deep sorrow and grief over the demise of the former foreign minister, President Dr Arif Alvi offered his heartfelt condolences to the family members.
He prayed to Allah Almighty to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved family to bear this loss with fortitude. The president also paid tributes to the services of the deceased for the country in the field of politics.
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has also expressed deep sorrow and grief over the death of Gohar. In his condolence message, the premier prayed for the high ranks of the departed soul and for the bereaved family to bear the loss with fortitude.
He also paid tribute to the ex-foreign minister for his contributions as a politician.
Meanwhile, PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif, Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, NA Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and other leaders and eminent personalities expressed grief and sorrow over the sad demise of Gohar.
