KARACHI: Veteran Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader and renowned intellectual Senator Taj Haider passed away in Karachi on Tuesday at the age of 83, after a prolonged battle with cancer. His death was confirmed by both his family and his party, marking the end of an era for the PPP and progressive politics in Pakistan.
His wife, Naheed Wasi, announced the news on Facebook, stating that details of his funeral would be shared later. According to Nazakat Ali, Haider’s staff director, the senator had been admitted to the intensive care unit at Karachi’s Ziauddin Hospital for the past two days, where he succumbed to his illness.
Senator Haider had a long and illustrious political career. A committed ideologue of the PPP, he served as a senator from March 2012 to 2018 and was re-elected in 2021 for another term that would have lasted until 2027. At the time of his passing, he was serving as the chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges and held the post of central secretary general of the PPP.
President Asif Ali Zardari expressed profound grief over Haider’s demise, praising his unwavering commitment to the party’s ideology and democratic values. “Taj Haider was an important asset of the PPP and one of its ideological workers. With his demise, the party has lost a significant political leader,” the president said in a statement.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari also paid tribute, describing Haider as a dignified figure whose decades-long contributions to political, social, and literary causes would not be forgotten. “He was a creative mind, a symbol of conscientiousness and intellect in Pakistani politics,” Bilawal said, noting that Haider’s struggle and sacrifices for democracy would serve as a beacon for future generations.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah joined in mourning, calling Haider’s passing an “irreparable loss” for the party and the nation. “Taj Haider was a smart, thoughtful and determined political leader. He always fought for democracy and public service,” the chief minister remarked.
Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tesori also extended his condolences, emphasizing that Haider’s contributions to politics and public service would be remembered. “May Allah grant the deceased a high place in paradise and give strength to the bereaved family,” he stated.
Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) paid rich tribute to Haider’s legacy, describing him as “among the few politicians who stood uncompromisingly for economic justice, cultural rights and democratic governance.”
PPP Senator Sherry Rehman called Haider “a true soldier of democracy, a religious man and a scholar,” adding that he rendered invaluable services to Pakistan, democracy, and the rights of Sindh.
Karachi Press Club President Fazil Jamili said the death brought “profound grief,” calling him “a true comrade, a dedicated democrat and a committed political worker — a rare breed in today’s political landscape.”
Senator Taj Haider leaves behind a legacy of intellectual integrity, political courage, and unyielding commitment to justice and democracy in Pakistan.
