Veteran Pakistani politician Senator Taj Haider dies at 83

Senator Taj Haider, a founding member of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and a veteran of the country’s democratic movement, died Tuesday in Karachi. He was 83.

His wife, Naheed Wasi, confirmed the news in a Facebook post. His funeral will be held Wednesday, April 9, after Zuhr prayers at Masjid-o-Imambargah Yasrab in Defense Phase 4, Karachi.

Haider was born on March 8, 1942, in Kota, Rajasthan, in British India. His father, Professor Karrar Hussain, was a teacher of English literature at Meerut College before migrating to Pakistan in 1948.

Haider received his early education in Karachi, later earning degrees in mathematics — including a Master’s — from the University of Karachi in 1962.

He joined the PPP during its socialist convention in 1967 and was among the party’s founding members.

Haider played a key role in shaping Pakistan’s early nuclear policy in 1970 and was involved in several major development projects, including the Heavy Mechanical Complex and Hub Dam.

He was first elected to the Senate in 1995 and again in 2014. He served on various standing committees and was appointed media coordinator for the Sindh provincial government in 2013.

Tributes poured in from across the political spectrum.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed sorrow over the loss, saying, “Pakistan has lost a prominent political figure.” He praised Haider’s contributions to democracy and expressed condolences to the bereaved family.

President Asif Ali Zardari called him “an important asset of the PPP” and “one of its ideological workers.”

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said Haider’s political, social and literary services “will never be forgotten,” describing him as “a creative mind” and “a symbol of conscientiousness and intellect in Pakistani politics.”

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said Haider’s passing was an “irreparable loss” and remembered him as “a smart, thoughtful and determined political leader.”

Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori also extended condolences, saying his public service would always be remembered.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan praised Haider as “among the few politicians who stood uncompromisingly for economic justice, cultural rights and democratic governance.”

PPP Senator Sherry Rehman said he was “a true soldier of democracy” and “a man of knowledge and action.”

Karachi Press Club President Fazil Jamili said Haider’s death was “profound grief,” calling him “a rare breed in today’s hypocritical political landscape.”

National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq also paid tribute, calling him “a dignified, polite soul” and said his legacy would inspire future generations.