Former minister Khalid Kharal passes away

LAHORE: Former federal minister and a noted politician from Kamalia, Khalid Ahmed Khan Kharal passed away after protracted illness on Sunday. 

Kharal remained associated with the PPP after retirement from civil services and served as the federal minister for information and broadcasting in the cabinet of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto between 1993-1996. He contested the National Assembly polls in 1988, 1993, 1997 and 2002. 

He also served as secretary general of PPP Federal Council but ended his long affiliation with the PPP in 2012 and joined the PTI but maintained a low profile in the party. Before joining politics, he was a civil servant and also served as deputy commissioner Larkana in the mid 70s. 

Senior politicians including PPP’s Secretary General Nayyar Hussain Bokhari, former interior minister Faisal Saleh Hayat, Manzoor Wattoo, party’s secretary information Ch Manzoor Ahmed, president central Punjab Qamar Zaman Kaira, Nadeem Afzal Chan, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, PTI MNA Shafqat Mehmood and others have condoled his death. He was laid to rest in his hometown Kamalia.

PPPP President Asif Ali Zardari has condoled the death of Khalid Kharal. In a condolence message, the former president expressed profound grief over the death. He also prayed for eternal rest for the departed soul. 

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif expressed grief over the demise of Khalid Kharal. In a condolence message, the chief minister expressed condolences and sympathies with the bereaved family and prayed that may Allah Almighty rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage and strength to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss. 

The chief minister also expressed sorrow over the death of a married person who had burnt himself alive in Jhang.  He expressed sympathies and condolences with the bereaved family. The CM has ordered registration of a case against SHO Athara Hazari and investigation officer for not providing justice to the deceased. He has directed to take legal action under the law against the SHO and investigation officer in the light of the inquiry report. Sargodha RPO has declared SHO and IO guilty in his inquiry report.