KARACHI: Prominent businessmen, philanthropist and social figure Mirza Mohamed (Isky) Ispahani died in Karachi after a prolonged illness. He was the eldest son of Quaid-i-Azam’s lieutenant and Pakistan’s first ambassador to the United States, Mirza Abol Hasan Ispahani. He was also the brother of former ambassador to Switzerland and Italy, Zia Ispahani and the father of PPP parliamentarian and human rights activist Farahnaz Ispahani. He was father-in-law of Husain Haqqani, former ambassador to the US. Isky Ispahani was born in Calcutta in 1930. He was educated at Cambridge University, where he also participated in the University hockey team. Although born into a wealthy business family, he was known for his concern for the weak and dispossessed. Unlike his father and brother, he chose not to play a direct role in politics. He was an avid tennis player and played a prominent role at the Sindh Club. He built businesses in erstwhile East Pakistan and Iran, which were both destroyed by revolutionary upheavals. He continued to run his family’s business enterprise in Karachi until his final days. Known for his charm, hospitality, intellect and sense of humor, Isky Ispahani was a popular figure in Karachi where he lived since 1947. He was married to Akhtar Ispahani. His children include Dr Mahnaz Ispahani, Mirza Iraj Ispahani, Farahnaz Ispahani and Lalehnaz Ispahani. He married Shobha Ispahani in his later years. His sister Iran Ispahani Rahim also lives in Karachi. The funeral prayers for Isky Ispahani were offered on Monday and he was buried at Bagh-e-Khorasan beside his mother Ameneh Sultan. Soyem will be held on Wednesday at the Defence Imambargah between Asr and Maghrib prayers.
