Ex-foreign minister Agha Shahi passes away

ISLAMABAD: Agha Shahi, former foreign minister, the icon of Foreign Office and one of Pakistan's eminent personalities, passed away here on Wednesday. He was in his eighties.

While announcing his death the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “It is with great sadness that the ministry announces the passing away of Agha Shahi, former foreign minister and eminent international personality whose long and dedicated services to defend and promote the causes of Pakistan will be long remembered and respected by the people of Pakistan. He was a great internationalist who espoused and promoted the interests of peace and human rights in the world.”

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in his remarks expressed deep sorrows over the sad demise of Agha Shahi, who, he said, was an outstanding diplomat and made valuable contribution in formulating Pakistan’s foreign policy first as a civil servant and later as a foreign minister.

“The late Agha Shahi had vast experience in bilateral and multilateral diplomacy and made his mark within the country and abroad through his deep and perceptive understanding of international relations. He will be remembered long for his dedicated services to the country. May God rest his soul in eternal peace.”

Agha Shahi died at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) after a protracted illness. He had served as a foreign minister from 1977 to 1982. He started his career in 1951 and served as Pakistan's permanent envoy to the United Nations, ambassador to the United States, China and several other capitals of the world. He also served on various posts at the Foreign Office in Islamabad including secretary Foreign Affairs.

The pipe-smoking chronic bachelor was a popular figure in the capital even after his retirement and led a Spartan and simple life, often getting up to make a cup of tea for visitors himself. His views on international relations were sought by many when they met him.

His last

assignment was as head of the Institute of Strategic Studies in Islamabad, which he resigned a couple of years ago because of ill health. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri, who is on a private visit to London these days, in his message said Agha Shahi was a great internationalist who espoused and promoted the interests of peace and human rights in the world.

Expressing his deep sense of grief and sorrow over the death of Agha Shahi, Kasuri also expressed his condolences with the members of his family. The foreign minister said, "Agha Shahi served in various key positions in the Foreign Ministry with great distinction rising to the position of foreign secretary and foreign minister. A generation of Pakistani diplomats had the fortune to learn from him. With his death, Pakistan has not only lost a great diplomat but also a great patriot and that an era in Pakistani diplomacy has come to an end. I always appreciated Agha Shahi's advice on matters of national security whenever I needed, adding, I will miss his wisdom and sagacity".

APP quoting the condolence message of Minister for Information and Broadcasting said Senator Muhammad Ali Durrani paid rich tributes to late Agha Shahi.

Expressing his immense sense of shock and grief over the sad demise of the veteran diplomat, he said Agha Shahi's death has deprived the country of the services of a seasoned diplomat who contributed a lot to the country. He said the late Agha Shah explored new horizons in the diplomatic front. He prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage and fortitude to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss with equanimity.

Secretary-General Pakistan Muslim League and Chairman Senate Foreign Relations Committee Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed also condoled the death of former foreign minister and paid him rich tributes.

He said Agha Shahi was an institution in himself and a long-standing, personal friend and one of the leading strategic thinkers of Pakistan who always protected, preserved and promoted Pakistan's national interest with commitment and competence. Mushahid termed the death of Agha Shahi an irreparable loss. The Namaz-e-Janaza for Agha Shahi was held at an Islamabad graveyard on Wednesday.