Veteran politician’s decades-long career remembered
LAHORE: Former Punjab governor Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khosa passed away in Lahore at the age of 90, his family confirmed on Thursday. He had been receiving treatment at a private hospital for some time before his death.
Khosa remained a prominent political figure for decades and played a significant role in Punjab’s political landscape. Initially, he stayed closely aligned with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and held several key government positions throughout his career. However, ahead of the 2018 general elections, he distanced himself from the party due to internal differences and later joined the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Born on October 20, 1935, in Dera Ghazi Khan, Khosa belonged to a politically influential family. He completed his early education at Queen Mary’s College and later studied at Aitchison College in Lahore. Moreover, he became the 21st recognized chief of the Khosa tribe, which has a strong presence across Punjab, Balochistan, and Sindh.
Record-setting political journey and leadership roles
Khosa began his political career early and, notably, secured election to the West Pakistan Assembly in 1962 at just 26 years old, making him the youngest member at the time. Subsequently, he won nine consecutive terms in the Punjab Provincial Assembly without defeat, setting a remarkable record.
Throughout his career, he served in multiple ministerial roles, including Education, Irrigation and Power, Finance, and Local Government. In addition, he held positions as senior minister and advisor, contributing significantly to provincial governance.
