HARIPUR (Dunya News) – The funeral prayer of former speaker National Assembly and foreign minister Gohar Ayub Khan was offered in the Rehana area of district Haripur on Saturday.
People belonging to all walks of life including social and political leaders attended his funeral prayers. Later, he was laid to rest in his ancestral graveyard in Haripur.
Gohar Ayub Khan passed away a day earlier after a brief illness on Friday. He was 86.
Omar Ayub Khan, Secretary General of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and former federal minister, confirmed the death of his father on social media.
Gohar Ayub was the son of former president and field marshal Ayub Khan and played an influential role in sustaining his father’s presidential rule after the 1965 election.
Gohar Ayub Khan was a politician, business oligarch, retired army officer, and conservative figure of the Pakistan Muslim League, who held ministerial positions during the tenure of prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
CONDOLENCES
Prominent leaders expressed grief over Khan’s demise and extended condolences to his family.
President Arif Alvi and caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar, PTI’s Central Media Department, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif, NA Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf, ex-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa finance minister and PTI leader Taimur Khan Jhagra, PTI Peshawar president Sher Ali Arbab, Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, Deputy Chairman Mirza Mohammad Afridi, Leader of the House Ishaq Dar and Opposition Leader Dr Shahzad Wasim condoled the death.
They also paid rich tributes to Mr Khan “for his services to the country and nation”.
Former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif wrote on X (Twitter):
ابھی ابھی سابق سپیکر قومی اسمبلی گوہرایوب خان کی وفات کی افسوسناک خبر ملی ۔ ان کے ساتھ ایک طویل سیاسی رفاقت رہی۔ اللہ پاک ان کے بیٹے عمر ایوب اور دیگر اہل خانہ کو صبر جمیل دے اور مرحوم کی مغفرت فرمائے۔ آمین
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) November 17, 2023اسپیکر قومی اسمبلی راجہ پرویزاشرف کا سابق اسپیکر قومی اسمبلی و سابق وفاقی وزیر گوہر ایوب کے انتقال پر گہرے دکھ اور افسوس کا اظہار اسپیکر قومی اسمبلی نے سابق اسپیکر قومی اسمبلی و سابق وفاقی وزیر گوہر ایوب کے انتقال پر انکے بیٹے سابق وفاقی وزیر عمر ایوب سے اظہار تعزیت کی۔ اسپیکر…
— National Assembly (@NAofPakistan) November 17, 2023 PTI leader Taimur Khan Jhagra and Peshawar president Sher Ali Arbab said:Condolences to @OmarAyubKhan on the death of his father, Gohar Ayub Khan. Omar has shown extraordinary character in the last few months. This is just one more test. We are all with you in an extraordinarily difficult time. إِنَّا ِلِلَّٰهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ
— Taimur Khan Jhagra (@Jhagra) November 17, 2023Thoughts and prayers on the passing away or Gohar Ayub Khan sahib. He was former NA Speaker and Foreign Minister. May Allah bless him and give sabr to his family. He was our Secretary General @OmarAyubKhan sb’s father.
— Sher Ali Arbab (@saarbab) November 17, 2023