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MP Bhandara passes away
Updated at  
Monday, June 16, 2008
ISLAMABAD: Former MNA MP Bhandara passed away here on Sunday at the age of 71 due to complications as a result of a serious automobile accident in China several weeks ago.

He leaves behind a legacy of enlightened political activism. He was the architect and owner of one of the most successful and durable business conglomerates in Pakistan. He belonged to the Parsi comunity.

Bhandara was a minority representative and a former member of the National Assembly. The National Assembly on Sunday paid tribute to MP Bhandara, a senior parliamentarian known for his indepth knowledge of parliamentary practices and rules.

Minister for Labour and Manpower Khursheed Shah announced Bhandara’s sad demise on the floor of the House and Speaker Fehmida Mirza observed a one-minute silence as a mark of respect for the former MNA.

The speaker said: “He was a seasoned parliamentarian whose role was very significant in the last assembly.” Akram Masih Gill recalled that during the last assembly, he and Bhandara used to sit on the treasury benches.

“He always talked of the rule of law and worked wholeheartedly to maintain the sanctity of the House,” Masih Gill said. Shakeela Khanum termed the news of Bhandara’s demise a tragic one and said she had known his family for a long time. She recalled her association with Bhandara’s sister Bapsi Sidhwa and said they were a learned family.

Shahzada Mohiuddin said he had known Bhandara since 1985. He was an honest and responsible person, Mohiuddin added. He said Bhandara used to visit the Kalash valley and spent millions of rupees for the development and welfare of the Kalash community.

“On behalf of the Kalash community, I can say that they will be very saddened at his demise,” he said. Haider Abbas Rizvi on behalf of MQM chief Altaf Hussain condoled with the family of Bhandara and said he had helped him in understanding some very difficult clauses of various bills.

“I had never seen him raise a point of order which was against the rules and regulations,” he said. Riaz Hussain Pirzada recalled the last speech of Bhandara in the National Assembly in which he urged the US to hold talks with the Taliban to bring peace in Afghanistan.

Chairman Senate, Mohammedmian Soomro and Deputy Chairman Senate, Jan Muhammad Khan Jamali have expressed their deep grief and sorrow over the death of the veteran minority legislator.

They paid rich tributes to the services rendered by the late parliamentarian especially in his capacity as a member of the Standing Committee on Culture, Minorities and Parliamentary Affairs, said a press release.