KARACHI: Sindh province’s governor Justice retired Saeed-uz-Zaman Siddiqui passed away in Karachi at the age of 79, Governor House spokesman confirmed on Wednesday.
Governor Sindh was under treatment at a local hospital for last four days due to a chest infection and breathing problems.
Saeed-uz-Zaman Siddiqui had sworn in as the 31st Governor of Sindh on November 11. He replaced Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad who held the office for almost fourteen years.
Siddiqui fell ill soon taking oath of the Governor’s office and remained under treatment for about 30 days. He returned to Governor House on December 16.
Sindh Assembly speaker Agha Siraj Durrani will replace Siddiqui as acting governor of the province.
Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali expressed deep grief and sorrow over the sad demise of Governor Sindh Justice rtd Saeeduzaman Siddiqui and has announced a day long mourning on Thursday.
He directed chief secretary Rizwan Memon to coordinate with the family of late Governor and his principal secretary for making official arrangements of his burial.
The chief minister also spoke to Principal Secretary to Governor Saileh Farooqui and discussed burial arrangements. He added that the family of the Governor must be consulted in each and every decision.
وزیراعلیٰ سندھ سید مراد علی شاھ نے گورنر سندھ جسٹس(ر) سعید الزمان صدیقی کے انتقال پر ایک دن کے سوگ کا اعلان
— CMHouseSindh (@SindhCMHouse) January 11, 2017
Who was Saeed-uz-Zaman Siddqui
A prominent jurist, Justice (retd) Siddiqui held top judicial offices during his professional career.
He was Chief Justice of Pakistan during the military coup by General (retd) Pervez Musharraf in 1999. Justice (retd) Siddiqui had defied to military ruler Musharraf who asked him to take a new oath under the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) following which the military regime forced him to step down from his position, a clear bid to shorten his tenure for his refusal of order.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) during the 2008 presidential election of Pakistan named Justice (retd) Siddiqui as a party candidate to replace Pervez Musharraf as President of Pakistan. He later lost the election to Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) Asif Ali Zardari.
Justice (retd) Siddiqui was once again selected for as a presidential candidate during 2013 elections, but his name was later replaced with Mamnoon Hussain.
Condolences pour in
PM Sharif has expressed deep grief over the sad demise of GovernorSindh Justice(R) Saeed-uz-Zaman Siddiqui who breathed his last in Karachi
— PML(N) (@pmln_org) January 11, 2017
Grieved to know about the sad demise of Governor Sindh Saeed ul Zaman Siddiqui. May Allah bless him with the highest place in Jannah.
— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) January 11, 2017
Our prayers for the departed soul of Governor Sindh…May he RIP. Hopefully next we will get a young & dynamic governor for the province.
— Fakhr-e-Alam (@falamb3) January 11, 2017
گورنر و سابق چیف جسٹس سپریم کورٹ سعید الزماں صدیقی کے انتقال پر چیئرمین پی ایس پی سید مصطفی کمال کی تعزیت@KamalPSP
— Pak Sarzameen Party (@PSPPakistan) January 11, 2017
بطور چیف جسٹس آف پاکستان ان کی خدمات کو خراج عقیدت پیش کرتے ہیں، سید مصطفی کمال@KamalPSP
— Pak Sarzameen Party (@PSPPakistan) January 11, 2017
چیئرمین پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی بلاول بھٹو زرداری کا گورنر سندھ سعید الزماں صدیقی کے انتقال پر رنج و غم کا اظہار
— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) January 11, 2017
