KARACHI: Agha Siraj Durrani, senior leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and former Speaker of the Sindh Assembly, has passed away at the age of 72, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah confirmed on Wednesday.
In a condolence statement, CM Shah described Durrani as a committed and principled political figure who contributed significantly to strengthening democratic processes in the province. He highlighted Durrani’s focus on public service and expressed sympathy to the bereaved family.
President Asif Ali Zardari also paid tribute, acknowledging Durrani’s efforts to support democratic governance and serve the people of Sindh. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recognized his tenure as Sindh Assembly speaker and praised his dedication to public welfare.
Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar remembered Durrani as an experienced parliamentarian and devoted public servant. Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab described him as a loyal party figure who stood by the PPP leadership during challenging periods. National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq referred to Durrani as a shrewd and capable politician whose absence would be deeply felt in the province’s political landscape.
Born in 1953, Durrani completed his matriculation from St. Patrick’s School in Karachi in 1971. He earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree and later an LLB from Sindh Muslim Law College. Early in his career, he contested the 1985 non-party elections alongside his elder brother, Agha Salahuddin, but was not successful.
In 1990, he was briefly imprisoned on embezzlement charges during the government of Nawaz Sharif. Durrani later served two consecutive terms as Sindh Assembly Speaker, from 2013 to 2018 and from 2018 to 2023, becoming a central figure in Sindh’s political affairs.
