Tributes pour in for Hasil Bizenjo in NA, Senate

ISLAMABAD: Parliamentarians paid tribute to National Party Chairman Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo who passed away on Thursday night after a prolonged battle with lung cancer.

PML-N MNA Khwaja Asif paid tribute to the principled politics of Mir Hasil Bizenjo, telling the speaker to obtain the lower house's consent to postpone the session in light of the politician's death.

PML-N Senator Mushahidullah Khan said those people who do not stray from their principles never die but always remain alive in the hearts of people. "It is normally very difficult for someone whose father is such a towering personality to carve out his own legacy," he said, adding that despite that Hasil Bizenjo had managed to make a name for himself in politics.

He said the Bizenjo family had always spoken the truth and never thought about the price they would have to pay. "They did keep paying a price all their lives for telling the truth," he said. "Did you ever see hatred in his eyes for anyone? He was merciful and loving towards everyone," said Mushahidullah. "Where do we find someone like Hasil?"

PPP leader Sherry Rehman said Bizenjo lived according to his terms. "People like me, women, were always provided encouragement and support by Bizenjo," she said. "He told me to remain steadfast and not listen to people who thought I did not belong to mainstream politics," added the PPP senator. She said Bizenjo was like a ray of light at a time of darkness in Pakistani politics.

PTM MNA Moshin Dawar said it was very difficult to fill the void left by Bizenjo's death. "I think this session [of the National Assembly] should be postponed to honour his memory," he said, describing it as a "huge loss" for the country. "The lot of politicians that he belonged to are decreasing day by day in Pakistan," he said.

PTI MNA Ramesh Kumar said he had known the late politician for the past 20-22 years as a friend. "Ever since I stepped into politics, I was his friend," he said. "Even till this day, I remember the things that he talked about with me." Kumar paid tribute to Bizenjo, stating that those who did good deeds, their names used to remain alive long after they are gone.

Senator Sarfaraz Bugti said the entire country is in mourning over such a huge loss and that Balochistan had been deprived of a great leader. "I was in very close contact with him as home minister. Where he was in favour of dialogue, he was also a believer in establishment of the writ of the state," added Bugti. The Balochistan home minister said Bizenjo continued his great legacy.