Ex-PM Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali passes away aged 76

The former prime minister was rushed to hospital a few days ago after suffering a heart attack

RAWALPINDI (Dunya News) – Former prime minister and veteran politician Mir Zafarullah Jamali passed away in Rawalpindi at the age of 76, his son confirmed on Wednesday.

The former prime minister was rushed to hospital a few days ago after suffering a heart attack and was shifted to a ventilator after his condition worsened.

Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali was a politician who served as the 15th Prime Minister of Pakistan from 2002 until his resignation in 2004. Originally a supporter of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Jamali emerged from the politics of Balochistan under military governor Rahimuddin Khan during the 1970s.

He became a national figure as part of the government of Nawaz Sharif, and was Chief Minister of Balochistan for two non-consecutive terms (from June–December 1988 and November 1996 –February 1997).

Jamali was the first politician from Pakistan s southwestern Balochistan Province to become prime minister.

He was fluent in several local languages (Urdu, Punjabi, Sindhi,Seraike and Balochi), and also speaks English well. He studied at some of the country s most prestigious institutions, including Lawrence College in Murree and the Government College in Lahore, and he received a master s degree in history from Punjab University.

Jamali began his political career in 1970 and joined PPP. Jamali took part in 1970 Pakistani general election for the first time, but lost it.

He was elected to the Provincial Assembly of Balochistan for the first time in 1977 Pakistani general election on a PPP ticket.

He was appointed a provincial minister in the provincial cabinet of Balochistan. As part of the new government in 1972, Jamali was appointed provincial home minister and Minister of Food, Information and Parliamentary Affairs in the Balochistan provisional cabinet.

In 1977 Pakistani general elections Jamali was re-elected as the member of the Provincial Assembly of Balochistan for the second time. He briefly held portfolios for the departments of Food, Information, Law and Parliamentary Affairs.

Jamali was elected as the member of the National Assembly of Pakistan in 1985 Pakistani general election from Naseerabad constituency and was inducted into the federal cabinet of Junejo and given the portfolio of Federal Minister of water and power.

In July 2002, Jamali joined the Pakistan Muslim League s breakaway Q Group as senior executive president. He was re-elected as the member of the National Assembly of Pakistan in 2002 Pakistani general election.

In November 2002, Jamali became the Prime Minister of Pakistan by a simple majority for five years for the first time after securing 188 votes out of 342 seats in the National Assembly of Pakistan. He was the first politician from Balochistan to become prime minister of Pakistan.

After resigning, Jamali pursued his passion for field hockey. In 2004, he became president of the Pakistan Hockey Federation and vowed to solve the problems facing by the Pakistan Hockey Federation and revive the Pakistan men s national field hockey team. He previously played for Punjab province, acted as Chief-de-Mission for the 1984 Summer Olympics and has been chief selector for the national team.

In 2008, he resigned as its president after the national hockey team performed poorly at the Olympic Games. In June 2018, he quit PML-N and joined Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.