Balochistan ex-governor Fazal Agha dies of coronavirus

Former Balochistan governor Syed Fazal Agha passed away late Wednesday night in Karachi due to the coronavirus-related illness, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Thursday. He was 79.

Agha was currently serving as the Balochistan Assembly member after being elected on a JUI-F ticket from Pishin. His funeral prayers would be offered at his native village Killi Hajizai Syedan in Pishin District on Thursday.

The seasoned politician had contracted coronavirus earlier this month after which it was revealed by family sources that he had self-quarantined at his home but later admitted to Fatima Jinnah Chest Hospital in Quetta.

However, Agha was shifted to a private hospital at Karachi due to his worsening condition where he breathed his last.

During his long political career, Agha served as Senate deputy chairman from 1988 to 1991. Later, he was appointed as Balochistan governor during the government of the then prime minister Nawaz Sharif in 1997, a post which he held till 1999.

Agha is the second politician to become a victim of coronavirus as Shaheen Raza, a ruling party MPA elected to the Punjab Assembly on a seat reserved for women, had died of coronavirus on Wednesday morning.

Shaheen was admitted to the DHQ Hospital Gujranwala after her condition deteriorated four days ago and placed on a ventilator because of her serious condition. Later, she was transferred to Mayo Hospital in Lahore where she died on Wednesday.

The deceased MPA was the sole PTI member from Gujranwala albeit on a reserved seat as the PML-N had swept the general seats in the 2018 general elections in the district.