Funeral prayers for Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani offered in Karampur

KARACHI: The funeral prayers of Sindh Minister for Planning and Development Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani were offered today in his ancestral village Karampur, district Kashmore.

Large number of local people, government ministers and political workers offered funeral prayers. The minister and his wife were found dead in mysterious circumstances at his residence in Karachi’s upscale Defence area on Thursday.

The guard and servants informed security agencies that they heard some noise and subsequent gunshot fires but they did not enter the bedroom as per instructions, adding, they informed the deceased’s son soon after the incident.

Later, the domestic servants and family members broke down the bedroom door, which was apparently locked from inside.

The body of influential tribal figure was shifted to Sukkur airport from Karachi via helicopter yesterday, from where the mortal remains of the minister brought to his ancestral village in the form of a procession.

The funeral prayers and burial of Bijarani’s wife, Fariha Razzaq Haroon, were earlier held in Karachi today.

As the news of Bijarani’s death broke on Thursday, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leadership reached his residence, including Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal, and Sindh Assembly Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza.

Domestic feud?

According to the Bijarani’s security guard, he heard some noises and subsequent gunshot fires around 6:30 am on early Thursday morning but he didn’t enter into the minister’s bedroom as per instructions.

The guard along with domestic servants awaited Bijarani to open the door until 10:30am, after which the son of the minister was called in.

As the door was broken down upon the son’s arrival, the body of Bijarani with a single fatal gunshot wound in head was on the sofa with a pistol lying near his body and his wife’s body was lying on the floor with three fatal bullet injuries.

Police have launched the investigation after collecting evidences. The officials, based on circumstantial evidences, did not rule out the possibility of suicide.

Bijarani’s political career

Bijarani was born on July 1, 1946 in Karampur, district Kashmore. He completed his Bachelors from National College Karachi, and LLB from Sindh Muslim Law College and Masters in Political Science.

He was elected in 2013 from PS-16 Jacobabad on PPP ticket.The veteran politician had served as MPA, MNA and Senator and was affiliated with the PPP since 70s.

Bijrani was an influential tribal figure in north Sindh. He was elected to the provincial assembly first in 1974 on PPP ticket. He was also elected in 1977 and 2013, besides serving as the party president Sindh chapter from 1986 to 1990.

He became member of National Assembly for the first time in 1990. He also held the portfolio of Sindh’s Education Minister.