PESHAWAR (Dunya News) - Caretaker Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Azam Khan passed away on Saturday. He was 89.
He was admitted to a private hospital on Friday night after his health deteriorated.
The hospital spokesperson, Shabbir Shah, said he was admitted to ICU in a critical condition. He said Azam was suffering from multiple ailments including heart problem.
Azam Khan's funeral prayer was offered in Charsadda. Caretaker ministers, FC IG Moazzam Ansari and secretaries of various departments attended funeral prayer.
Profile
Muhammad Azam Khan had served as the caretaker chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since Jan 21, 2023. He was appointed by Governor Haji Ghulam Ali after the dissolution of the KP provincial assembly on Jan 18, 2023.
He was born in a village named Parrang in Charsadda. He had a law degree from the University of Peshawar. Azam Khan had passed Bar At Law from Lincoln’s Inn College London. He joined the District Management Group (now called PAS) after passing the civil services examination and retired from the top slot of chief secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Legal perspective
Former ECP secretary Kanwar Dilshad said the KP cabinet stood dissolved with the death of the chief minister. He said: "Law stipulates that until a new chief minister is elected, the governor will assume authority and manage provincial affairs."
He said Article 224 of the Constitution empowered the Senate to make decisions in emergency situations, and if there’s a disagreement in selecting a new CM, the matter would be referred to the ECP.
He further said the leaders of the House and the opposition in the Senate would sit together to come up with a new CM’s name. In case of disagreement between them, the matter would land in the ECP.
The entire process should not take more than a week under the law, said Dilshad.
Condolences pour in
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar termed the KP CM an honest and pious person. He prayed for the deceased’s family.
نگران وزیر اعلی خیبر پختونخواہ اعظم خان کے انتقال کی تکلیف دہ خبر ملی وہ یقینا ایک ایماندار اور نیک انسان تھے۔ اللہ تعالیٰ مرحوم کے درجات بلند فرمائے اور پسماندگان کو صبر جمیل عطا فرمائے ۔ آمین
— Anwaar ul Haq Kakar (@anwaar_kakar) November 11, 2023
Caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi remembered Azam as a 'gentleman' and 'polite' person. In the same way, caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti prayed for Khan’s family.
وزیراعلیٰ خیبر پختونخوا محمد اعظم خان کے انتقال پر مجھے انتہائی افسوس ہوا ہے۔ میں مرحوم اعظم خان کے اہل خانہ سے تعزیت اور ہمدردی کا اظہار کرتا ہوں۔ مجھے اعظم خان کے انتقال کی خبر سن کر دلی صدمہ ہوا۔ مرحوم اعظم خان شریف النفس اور شائستہ انسان تھے۔ بطور نگران وزیراعلیٰ انہوں نے…
— Murtaza Solangi (@murtazasolangi) November 11, 2023
انا للہ وانا الیہ راجعون نگران وزیر اعلیٰ خیبر پختون خواہ اعظم خان وفات پا گئے، اللہ تعالیٰ ان کی مغفرت فرمائے اور ان کے اہل و عیال کو صبر جمیل عطا فرمائے۔ آمین
— Senator Sarfraz Bugti (@PakSarfrazbugti) November 11, 2023Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori showed his profound grief on Khan's death and prayed for deceased’s elevated ranks.
خیبرپختونخوا کے نگراں وزیراعلیٰ محمد اعظم خان کے انتقال پر بہت افسوس ہوا، اللہ تعالی سے مرحوم اعظم خان کی مغفرت،بلند درجات اور لواحقین کے لیے صبر جمیل کی دعا کرتا ہوں
— Kamran Tessori (@KamranTessoriPk) November 11, 2023PPP leader Faisal Karim Kundi also prayed for the bereaved family, saying he was 'deeply saddened by the loss'.
Deeply saddened by the loss of KP caretaker chief minister Azam Khan. My thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time. May his soul find eternal peace. #RIPAzamKhan #Condolences
— Faisal Karim Kundi (@fkkundi) November 11, 2023