Pakistan’s former high commissioner to the United Kingdom and Pakistan People’s Party stalwart Wajid Shamsul Hasan passed away in London on Tuesday, party leaders said.
State-run APP news agency reported that Hasan passed away in London after a prolonged illness.
Hasan had stepped down as Pakistan’s high commissioner to the UK in April 2014 after serving in the office for six years.
He was at the time the longest-serving Pakistani envoy to the UK. This was his second stint there, having worked as the high commissioner from 1994 to 1996.
Hasan was the author of ‘Bhutto Khandaan Meri Yaadon Mein: Wajid Shamsul Hasan Ki Nisf Sadi Par Muheet Yaadein’ (‘The Bhutto Family in My Memories: Wajid Shamsul Hasan’s Memoirs of Half a Century).
The book is an insider account of events centred on the Bhutto family, as narrated by someone who spent a lifetime associated with them. Additionally, the former diplomat in his book recounts memories of his own life and career trajectory, from starting out as a junior journalist to his appointment as the chairman of the National Press Trust.
Former President of Pakistan and Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians President Asif Ali Zardari has expressed deep grief and sorrow over the sad demise of renowned journalist and former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Syed Wajid Shamsul Hassan.
Paying homage to Syed Wajid Shamsul Hassan, he said on Tuesday that Syed Wajid Shamsul Hassan’s father Syed Shamsul Hassan remained a companion of Quaid-e-Azam for 40 years while Syed Wajid Shamsul Hassan also remained loyal and steadfast brother of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto throughout his life.
Zardari said that Syed Wajid Shamsul Hassan has rendered unparalleled services to the country, party leadership and democracy. The party leadership and workers are mourning the death of this great friend of the Bhutto family.
Syed Wajid Shamsul Hassan highlighted the Kashmir cause as Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and persuaded the parliamentarians, journalists and intellectuals there to pave the way for the oppressed of occupied Kashmir.
Expressing condolences to the family of the late Syed Wajid Shamsul Hassan, the former president said that he was also saddened by his death. He prayed that may Allah Almighty grant the late Syed Wajid Shamsul Hassan high ranks in Paradise and courage to his family to bear this great loss with fortitude.
Similarly, PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari condoled Hasan’s demise, saying an “immense source of strength and guidance for me left us today”.
“Journalist, diplomat, democrat, family friend, good bye uncle Wajid,” Bilawal wrote. “Nothing will be the same without you.”
Bilawal also shared his text conversation with Hasan last year, in which the former diplomat had reported being unwell.
Moreover, PPP senior leader and Senator Sherry Rehman said she was “shocked, saddened” to hear of Hasan’s passing.
“He spent a lifetime of devotion to democracy, human rights, free press and the PPP. What a loss!” she tweeted, extending condolences to his family and the broader civil society community that she said he had been deeply involved with.
PPP Central Information Secretary Shazia Atta Marri also expressed grief and sorrow over Hassan’s death, saying his journalistic, diplomatic and national services would always be remembered.
