Governor Sindh Saeed-uz-Zaman Siddiqui passes away

KARACHI: Governor Sindh Justice (retd) Saeed-uz-Zaman Siddiqui has passed away in a private hospital, where he was taken due to chest pain and breathing problem, an official said on Wednesday.

According to a statement issued by the spokesperson of Governor House, the 79-year-old was rushed to a private hospital located in Clifton neighbourhood of the city in the morning.

Justice (retd) Siddiqui had been facing severe health issues ever since assuming charge as the 31st governor of the province, replacinig Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan -- the longest serving governor in Pakistan. Siddiqui was discharged from the private hospital after 35 days on December 15.

Speaker Sindh Assembly Agha Siraj Durrani has been appointed as acting governor of Sindh.

Three days after being sworn in on November 11, the Sindh Governor was admitted to the hospital reportedly for breathing difficulties and a chest infection. Reports said that the governor was discharged from the hospital because of family pressure.

He was accompanied by a 24-hour monitoring team including chest specialist, neurologist and physiotherapist ever since. A ten-member medical board comprising neurological physicians, surgeons, orthopedics, chest specialists also monitored the ailing Governor's health round the clock at the hospital.

Governor Siddiqui had vowed that he will make all out efforts for the welfare of people of the province.

Siddiqui was born in Lucknow on Dec 1, 1938 before his family migrated to East Pakistan present day Bangladesh. Early education was acquired from Dhaka before settling in Karachi.

Justice (retd) Siddiqui graduated from Karachi University and then studied law that led to him being enrolled as an advocate of the high court in 1963 and then the Supreme Court in 1968.

He contested bar elections and held various positions until he was appointed a judge of the Sindh High Court in May 1980. He was appointed chief justice of the Sindh High Court (SHC) ten years after being appointed as a judge of the high court. Earlier, he contested and held various bar positions.

In May 1992, Siddiqui was elevated as a judge of Pakistan's top court and subsequently became 15th chief justice of Pakistan on July 1, 1999 and remained in the position till Jan 26, 2000. He was twice nominated for the post of president in 2003 and 2008.

During the rule of General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, Justice (retd) Siddiqui famously refused to take oath under the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO).