The funeral prayers of Naeemul Haque, one of the senior-most members of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), who passed away Saturday night, were offered in Ayesha Masjid (Mosque) in the metropolis’ DHA locality, Karachi.
A close aide of Prime Minister Imran Khan, Haque passed away late Saturday at the age of 70 in Karachi. He had been battling cancer for the past two years.
A banker and businessperson by profession and one of the co-founders of the ruling party, he was instrumental in promoting positive change in Pakistan as part of the PTI’s ideology.
In January 2018, seven months before the general elections, Haque was diagnosed with blood cancer. When the PTI finally came into power later that year, he was appointed as the special assistant on political affairs to PM and was involved in a number of initiatives ranging from housing scheme, party operations, strategic development goals, and appointments.
Am devastated by one of my oldest friend Naeem’s passing. He was one of the 10 founding mbrs of PTI & by far the most loyal. In 23 yrs of PTI’s trials & tribulations, he stood by me. He was always there for support whenever we were at our lowest ebb.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) February 15, 2020
The prime minister, a close friend, said he was “devastated” by Haque’s passing.
“He was one of the 10 founding members of the PTI and by far the most loyal,” the prime minister wrote. “In 23 years of PTI’s trials and tribulations, he stood by me. He was always there for support whenever we were at our lowest ebb.”
“In the last two years, I saw him battle cancer with courage and optimism,” PM Imran wrote.
