LAHORE: PTI MNA Mian Azhar, a senior Pakistani politician and father of Hammad Azhar, died in Lahore on Tuesday at the age of 82. He had been suffering from a serious illness for several months, and his health had gradually worsened.
Mian Muhammad Azhar was a long-serving public figure. He held key positions during his political career, including governor of Punjab during Nawaz Sharif’s first term in the early 1990s. He later served as the federal commerce minister.
Following the 1999 military coup, Mian Azhar played a leading role in forming the Pakistan Muslim League–Quaid (PML-Q), which supported then-president Pervez Musharraf. After years away from politics, he made a return in early 2025.
Running as a PTI-backed independent candidate in the general elections, he won the NA-129 (Lahore) seat. This was the same seat once held by his son, Hammad Azhar. Mian Azhar secured 103,718 votes, while his rival from PML-N, Hafiz Nauman, received 71,540 votes.
His victory marked a strong comeback and reflected his continued influence in Lahore politics. In comparison, Hammad Azhar had previously won the same seat in the 2018 elections with 105,734 votes.
Tributes poured in following the news of his death. Former Sindh governor and ex-PTI leader Imran Ismail expressed sorrow on social media, calling Mian Muhammad Azhar a “distinguished political figure.” He also extended condolences to Hammad Azhar and his family, praying for peace for the departed soul.
Mian Azhar’s contributions to Pakistan’s political landscape spanned over three decades. He is remembered as a significant figure in both national and provincial politics.
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