Dr. Aamir Liaquat Hussain passes away in Karachi


KARACHI/ISLAMABAD, June 09 (SABAH): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Member National Assembly and famous television show host Dr. Aamir Liaquat Hussain has passed away in Karachi on Thursday. He was 50.

DIG East Muquddas Haider said Dr. Aamir Liaquat Hussain’s condition deteriorated early in the morning after which he was taken to the Aga Khan University Hospital, where he was later declared dead.

He added that preliminary reports show no foul play, however, a post-mortem examination of the politician will be conducted at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre.

Meanwhile, National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf adjourned the session, which started earlier on Thursday, till 5:00 PM today (Friday) after receiving news of the lawmaker’s death.

The National Assembly session was underway when Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf told lawmakers that he had received a sad report about the death of Aamir Liaquat Hussain. He then announced to stop the NA proceedings immediately and adjourned the session till 5pm tomorrow.

Liaquat is survived by two children and was married thrice. He joined the PTI in March 2018 and was elected as MNA from Karachi in the general elections held later that year. He had later fallen out with the party.

He had earlier been a key leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and had parted ways with the party in August 2016, saying at the time that he would be leaving politics.

Aamir Liaquat’s true claim to fame, however, had come from the years he spent in the media limelight. In 2001, he joined Geo TV where he hosted Aalim Online, a religious programme that gained him a large following.

In the years that followed, Liaquat hosted Ramazan transmissions on both Geo TV and Bol News. The last show he hosted was Bol House with Aamir Liaquat.

He faced multiple controversies in his career as a television host. A number of his shows were temporarily banned by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) over hate speech. In 2018, the Islamabad High Court had barred him from making any appearance on electronic media.

Husain’s love life had also remained at the centre of the public’s fascination. His last two marriages — and very public separations — dominated news cycles and social media chatter.

Meanwhile, the police have started an investigation into the death of the PTI leader and conducted a search at his home in Karachi’s Khudadad Colony. SSP East said the police will also obtain CCTV footage to ascertain the facts leading to his death.

The authorities have decided to conduct a post-mortem as he died under mysterious circumstances.

East SSP said that the police examined Liaquat’s house and everything was in place. However, the police cordoned off his bedroom after collecting evidence. Police said that the family’s permission has been acquired for an autopsy after which a report will be prepared on the cause of death.

Moreover, the police will take the statement of Aamir’s driver Javed, who had informed the police about the incident first.

As per his domestic staff, Aamir Liaquat was not feeling well since morning and later became unconscious. He was taken to a private hospital where he was pronounced dead upon arrival, he added. However, spokesperson of Chippa, a welfare organization, stated that the lawmaker was found dead at his house.

According to police, the body of the deceased will be shifted to Jinnah Hospital or Civil Hospital for post-mortem after which it would be handed over to the immediate family.

The deceased’s body was later transported to Karachi’s Jinnah Hospital for postmortem. A medical board has been formed for the procedure.

Police Surgeon Karachi Dr Samia Syed will head the board while Dr Sikander Azam and Dr Rajendra Kumar will be the other members.

The medical professionals will do a complete body examination and will also perform various scans once the family of the deceased entertainer give their consent.

Aamir Liaquat was born 5 July 1971 in Karachi. Hussain was a politician, television host and has been listed three times in The 500 influential Muslims worldwide.

He was a member of the National Assembly from 2002 to 2007 and served as the Minister of State for Religious Affairs from 2004 to 2007 in the federal cabinet of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

News of his death triggered an outpouring of grief.

Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has expressed grief over Dr. Aamir Liaquat Hussain’s death and prayed for his forgiveness. “May Allah raises the ranks of the deceased and give patience to the mourning family,” he said.

President Dr. Arif Alvi expressed deep grief and sorrow at Aamir Liaquat’s sudden death. In a statement on Twitter, he prayed for the forgiveness of the deceased. “The President expressed sympathy and [prayed for the strength of] the family,” it added.

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari expressed his shock at the news. “Dr. Aamir Liaquat Hussain led a dynamic life from journalism to politics. He proved his mettle in various fields of life from writing and speech,” he said.

Former president and PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari also expressed deep grief and sorrow at the death of Aamir Liaqat. Asif Ali Zardari expressed sympathies with the family members of Aamir Liaquat. Asif Ali Zardari has prayed for higher status in heaven for the departed soul.

Meanwhile Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz Sharif expressed grief and sorrow on the sudden death of Dr. Aamir Liaquat Hussain. While talking to media persons outside the Islamabad High Court, Maryam Nawaz prayed for higher status in heaven for the departed soul. Maryam Nawaz also expressed condolences with the family members of Dr. Aamir Liaquat Hussain.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and Spokesperson Barrister Murtaza Wahab also extended their condolences to the family of the deceased MNA.

Meanwhile, former interior minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed prayed for the bereaved family.

PTI Senator Faisal Javed Khan also prayed for the grieving family. “May God forgive him and bestow his family and loved ones with patience,” he said.

Former Sindh governor Imran Ismail said that Liaquat played an important role in the political journey of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, recalling that he always shared a good relationship with the MNA, even after he resigned from the party.

Speaker NA Raja Pervez Ashraf expresses grief & sorrow on the death of MNA Dr. Aamir Liaquat Hussain

ISLAMABAD, June 09 (SABAH): Speaker National Assembly Raja Pervez Ashraf and Deputy Speaker Zahid Akram Durrani have expressed the grief and sorrow on the death of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Member National Assembly Dr. Aamir Liaquat Hussain.

In their separate condolences messages to the family of Dr. Aamir Liaquat Hussain on Thursday, Raja Pervez Ashraf and Zahid Akram Durrani while expressing deep grief and sorrow on the death of member national assembly paid rich tribute to his political and social services.

Raja Pervez Ashraf and Zahid Akram Durrani said that they are grieved while hearing the news of sudden death of Dr. Aamir Liaquat Hussain, adding that the political and social services of the deceased will be remembered for a long time. Raja Pervez Ashraf and Zahid Akram Durrani prayed higher status in heaven for the departed soul and courage for the family to face this irreparable loss.