Veteran Baloch politician Hasil Bizenjo passes away

KARACHI: Senior politician from Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo, passed away on Thursday, his party’s spokesperson, Jan Muhammad Buledi, told Arab News.
He was 62.
“Bizenjo was admitted to Aga Khan hospital, Karachi, after being diagnosed with lung cancer. His body will be taken to his hometown in Khuzdar district where his funeral will be offered tomorrow at 5pm,” he said.
The veteran Baloch politician remained the federal minister for ports and shipping during the last Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government. He was president of the National party that joined Nawaz Sharif’s political faction as a coalition partner in Balochistan.
“Much like Ghaus Bux Bizenjo, his late father, Hasil Bizenjo thought that Pakistan needed a new social contract for the prosperity and integrity of its people,” Saeed Sarbazi, a senior Baloch analyst, told Arab News.
“While being a clear opponent of militancy,” he continued, “Bizenjo accused successive governments of making huge blunders in Balochistan by taking hard-line positions that subsequently led to various crises.”
“He also believed that the federation should allow Balochistan a fair share from the province’s own resources,” he said, adding that Bizenjo had remained a consistent ally of the PML-N at the Center as well as his own province since it struck a coalition deal with the party after the 2013 polls.
“Talking to me a few days ago when he was admitted to the hospital, Bizenjo said he had lost hope in the performance of opposition parties,” Sarbazi informed.
Commenting on the life and political career of the deceased Baloch leader, Pashtun politician and intellectual Afrasiab Khattak said Bizenjo had devoted his entire life to the people of his province.
“He started his political career as a student activist, made it to parliament, became the head of his political party, and earned respect as a national leader who stood for peace and democracy,” Khattak told Arab News.
Reacting to the sad development, the country’s information minister, Shibli Faraz, said that Bizenjo’s services for Pakistan’s constitution, democracy, and parliament would always be remembered.
Chief Minister Balochistan Jam Kamal also expressed his grief over the death of the senior politician. “Balochistan has been deprived of a prominent political figure,” he said.
Expressing his sorrow over the tragedy, Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari described Bizenjo’s death as a great loss to the country, its democratic forces, and Balochistan.
The PPP leader also eulogized the deceased politician “for upholding the Constitution,” working for the “restoration and strengthening of democracy,” and ensuring “respect and protection for human rights” in the country.