Elahi Baksh Soomro, a veteran politician and lifelong member of the Muslim League, passed away in Karachi on Wednesday after a prolonged illness at the age of 98, his family announced.
Soomro, who served as Speaker of the National Assembly during Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s second term from 1997 to 1999, and held various ministerial positions in past governments, had been living a private life since his retirement in 2017.
“It is with deep sorrow that I share the passing of my grandfather, former National Assembly Speaker Elahi Baksh Soomro,” his grandson Maula Bux Soomro wrote in a Facebook post, announcing that the funeral prayers would take place in Karachi at 1 p.m. on Thursday (today).
Born on May 15, 1926, Soomro hailed from an influential political family in the Shikarpur-Jacobabad districts. An engineer by profession, he served as director general of the Karachi Development Authority (KDA) and held the prestigious position of chairman of the Pakistan Engineering Council for a record four terms.
In his political career, Soomro was elected to the National Assembly multiple times from Sindh and became the 16th Speaker of the National Assembly from 1997 to 1999. Prior to that, he held several federal ministerial portfolios, including industries, housing, defense production, science and technology, and information.
Soomro announced his retirement from politics in 2017 at the age of 93, declaring that his affiliation with the Muslim League remained unchanged. “I started my political journey with the Muslim League, and even after retiring, I remain a loyal member,” he said at the time.
Tributes began pouring in as news of his death spread. Speaker Ayaz Sadiq expressed his deep grief and prayed for the departed soul, while Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori mourned the loss of what he called a “heartwarming personality.” Politician Javed Hashmi also paid tribute, stating that Soomro would “forever be remembered with fondness.”
