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Pakistani community members in Qatar have expressed their heartfelt grief over the sudden demise of member of Pakistan’s National Assembly (MNA) Haji Munir Khan Orakzai, who passed away in Pakistan on June 2 at the age of 61. He died of heart failure just days after recovering from the coronavirus.
Orakzai, who lived in Qatar for a long time before entering into active politics in Pakistan in 2002, had tested positive for coronavirus in April but he had made full recovery from the disease in May.
An online condolence reference was held wherein the contributions of Orakzai were discussed in detail and rich tributes were paid to him.
The participants noted that Orakzai not only served the residents of his constituency but also raised issues of overseas Pakistanis at the national level. His sudden death was shocking and an irreparable loss, they said.
The online session was hosted by Rana Anwar Ali, who runs a successful YouTube channel #Meetwithrana. Quoting Morrie Schwartz’s popular anecdote “death ends a life; not a relationship”, Ali said Orakzai will always be remembered by his friends for his humility and warm personality.
Senior community member Tahir Mehmood Chaudhary, who played a pivotal role in arranging the online condolence reference, said that community members in Qatar will always cherish the sweet memories of Orakzai. “I had a long association with Munir Khan Orakzai. There is a long list of sweet memories. I still remember the day when Haji sahib discussed with me his plans to enter the fray of Pakistan’s political arena. May Allah Almighty give courage and fortitude to the bereaved family to bear the irreparable loss,” said Chaudhary, while wishing success to the younger brother of Munir Orakzai, Dr Abdul Qadir Khan Orakzai, who has been nominated political successor of the deceased.
“The news of death of Munir Khan Orakzai was received with deep sorrow and grief in Qatar. May Allah Almighty rest the departed soul in eternal peace. The valuable services rendered by the deceased for the community members during his long stay in Doha will always be remembered,” said Pakistan’s Ambassador to Qatar HE Syed Ahsan Raza Shah, in a video message sent for the occasion.
Former ambassadors to Qatar Mohammad Asghar Afridi and Mohammad Sarfraz Khanzada also shared their association with the deceased and discussed his political maturity and a strong desire to serve his compatriots.
The others who participated in the session included Dr Abdul Qadir Khan Orakzai, Qazi Mohammad Asghar, Adeel Akbar, Arshad Hussain, Ashraf Siddiqui, Mohammad Khan, Mohammad Atiq, Qazi Saleem, Janan Bangash, Feroz Khan Afridi, Akram Bangash and Sarmad Qazi.
Orakzai arrived in Qatar in 1981 and worked with Elbaida Tansport Company as an accountant and later as a manager. His father, Mir Akbar Jan alias Kaji, arrived in Qatar in 1962 and engaged himself in welfare activities throughout his stay in the country until 1986. His elder brother Haji Afzal Khan and younger brother Dr Fazlur Rehman were also popular figures among community members in Qatar.
Orakzai hailed from Kurram district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and was elected to NA-45 in the 2018 elections. Previously, he was member of the National Assembly from 2002 to 2013. He also served as the parliamentary leader of the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) between 2002 and 2013 and played a pivotal role in uniting tribal leaders. He narrowly escaped a bomb attack during an election campaign meeting in Kurram Agency in 2013.
Speaking to Qatar Tribune, Dr Abdul Qadir Khan Orakzai thanked community members for organising the online condolence reference. He said it was a great honour that he has been named the political successor of his brother. He expressed his determination to take forward the mission of his elder brother which revolved around the welfare of his countrymen.
“Despite holding high offices in the government, my brother was a simple and down to earth person. He used to always have his meals in the company of his workers. He was a God-fearing person and believed in pardoning even his worst enemies. He performed Umrah more than a hundred times and performed Haj 30 times. He was conferred upon with the nation’s coveted Nishan-e-Imtiaz in 2011 in recognition of his contribution to the historic 18th amendment in the constitution of Pakistan,” said the youngest brother of Orakzai.
Orakzai, who lived in Qatar for a long time before entering into active politics in Pakistan in 2002, had tested positive for coronavirus in April but he had made full recovery from the disease in May.
An online condolence reference was held wherein the contributions of Orakzai were discussed in detail and rich tributes were paid to him.
The participants noted that Orakzai not only served the residents of his constituency but also raised issues of overseas Pakistanis at the national level. His sudden death was shocking and an irreparable loss, they said.
The online session was hosted by Rana Anwar Ali, who runs a successful YouTube channel #Meetwithrana. Quoting Morrie Schwartz’s popular anecdote “death ends a life; not a relationship”, Ali said Orakzai will always be remembered by his friends for his humility and warm personality.
Senior community member Tahir Mehmood Chaudhary, who played a pivotal role in arranging the online condolence reference, said that community members in Qatar will always cherish the sweet memories of Orakzai. “I had a long association with Munir Khan Orakzai. There is a long list of sweet memories. I still remember the day when Haji sahib discussed with me his plans to enter the fray of Pakistan’s political arena. May Allah Almighty give courage and fortitude to the bereaved family to bear the irreparable loss,” said Chaudhary, while wishing success to the younger brother of Munir Orakzai, Dr Abdul Qadir Khan Orakzai, who has been nominated political successor of the deceased.
“The news of death of Munir Khan Orakzai was received with deep sorrow and grief in Qatar. May Allah Almighty rest the departed soul in eternal peace. The valuable services rendered by the deceased for the community members during his long stay in Doha will always be remembered,” said Pakistan’s Ambassador to Qatar HE Syed Ahsan Raza Shah, in a video message sent for the occasion.
Former ambassadors to Qatar Mohammad Asghar Afridi and Mohammad Sarfraz Khanzada also shared their association with the deceased and discussed his political maturity and a strong desire to serve his compatriots.
The others who participated in the session included Dr Abdul Qadir Khan Orakzai, Qazi Mohammad Asghar, Adeel Akbar, Arshad Hussain, Ashraf Siddiqui, Mohammad Khan, Mohammad Atiq, Qazi Saleem, Janan Bangash, Feroz Khan Afridi, Akram Bangash and Sarmad Qazi.
Orakzai arrived in Qatar in 1981 and worked with Elbaida Tansport Company as an accountant and later as a manager. His father, Mir Akbar Jan alias Kaji, arrived in Qatar in 1962 and engaged himself in welfare activities throughout his stay in the country until 1986. His elder brother Haji Afzal Khan and younger brother Dr Fazlur Rehman were also popular figures among community members in Qatar.
Orakzai hailed from Kurram district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and was elected to NA-45 in the 2018 elections. Previously, he was member of the National Assembly from 2002 to 2013. He also served as the parliamentary leader of the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) between 2002 and 2013 and played a pivotal role in uniting tribal leaders. He narrowly escaped a bomb attack during an election campaign meeting in Kurram Agency in 2013.
Speaking to Qatar Tribune, Dr Abdul Qadir Khan Orakzai thanked community members for organising the online condolence reference. He said it was a great honour that he has been named the political successor of his brother. He expressed his determination to take forward the mission of his elder brother which revolved around the welfare of his countrymen.
“Despite holding high offices in the government, my brother was a simple and down to earth person. He used to always have his meals in the company of his workers. He was a God-fearing person and believed in pardoning even his worst enemies. He performed Umrah more than a hundred times and performed Haj 30 times. He was conferred upon with the nation’s coveted Nishan-e-Imtiaz in 2011 in recognition of his contribution to the historic 18th amendment in the constitution of Pakistan,” said the youngest brother of Orakzai.
