Sindh Minister for Planning and Development Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani and his wife were found shot dead in their home in Karachi's Defence Housing Authority, South Punjab News reported on Thursday.
According to initial reports, the bodies of Bijarani and his wife Fariha Razzaq, who was a journalist, were found in their bedroom, the door to which was locked.
The Bijarani family has confirmed the PPP minister's death. Police sources said that the case is being investigated from all possible angles.
Police officials have reached the site and started the initial investigation into the case. Sources within the police said that that a caller on the Rescue 15 helpline told them that two bodies have been found at the Bijarani house.
Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has asked for a police report on the deaths be shared with him.
Sindh Assembly Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza, speaking to DawnNews, shared her shock over the news. "This is a very sad incident. I could never have imagined this could happen. I do not know anything else except that he is not among us right now."
She said it was a "huge loss for the party", adding, "He was an educated individual and a very soft spoken person."
Sindh Minister for Information Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, while speaking to DawnNews, said: This is a sad and terrible day, I still cannot believe such a thing has happened. We were together in the assembly just yesterday."
Taking to Twitter to express her grief over the deaths, PPP MNA Nafisa Shah said: "Heartbreaking news has just been reported [...] This is a big tragedy for the family and the PPP both. My thoughts and prayers are with their families, constituents and our PPP family."Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf MNA Arif Alvi also offered his condolences on the deaths. "Very sad to hear about my friends Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani and Fariha Razzaq Haroon shot dead. May their souls rest in peace. Met him on Monday last & Fariha came over for lunch to my house on Saturday," he said on Twitter.Born on July 10, 1946 into a prominent political family, Bijarani completed his Bachelors from National College Karachi, following which he did his LLB from Sindh Muslim Law College and Masters' in Political Science.
He had served as a senator as well as an MNA and also held the portfolio of Sindh's Education Minister. He was elected in 2013 from PS-16 Jacobabad.
Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani was born to a prominent political family from Karampur district, Kashmoor on July 10, 1946.
He obtained his bachelor’s degree from National College Karachi after which he joined the Sindh Muslim Law College for his LLB and masters in political science.
He served as a senator in 1988 in addition to being elected as an MPA on PPP’s ticket in 1974, 1977 and in 2013 from PS-16 Jacobabad. In 1974, he served as the sports minister when the party’s founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was serving as the prime minister.
Bijrani served as a member of the National Assembly in 1990, 1997, 2002 and 2008. In 2002, his son Shabbir became the district nazim of Jacobabad district.
In 2008, he served as federal minister for education in Yousaf Raza Gilani’s Cabinet. Later, he served as the federal minister for industry and production.
When the Supreme Court sacked Gilani and Raja Pervez Ashraf became the prime minister, Bijarani became the federal inter-provincial coordination department minister.
In 2013, Bijarani was a strong candidate for the post of chief minister in Sindh, but PPP appointed Qaim Ali Shah on the position and gave the former the portfolio of the works and services.
He was later given the portfolio of education department before he served as the planning and development minister as his last appointment in any office.
Bijarani’s wife Fareeha Razaque was elected to Sindh Assembly in 2002 on the reserved seat for women and served in the capacity until 2007.
Among the political portfolios, Bijarani also served as a member of the committee on government assurances.
