Former Sindh Assembly Speaker, PPP stalwart Agha Siraj Durrani passes away

WEB DESK: Agha Siraj Khan Durrani, the long-serving Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) stalwart and former speaker of the Sindh Assembly, passed away on Wednesday, marking the end of an era for one of Sindh’s most storied political families. Born in the mid-1950s in Shikarpur, Durrani came from a lineage deeply woven into Sindh’s political and cultural fabric. President Asif Ali Zardari expressed sorrow and offered condolences to the deceased’s family.

According to a profile by Dawn, his grandfather, Agha Shamsuddin, was a poet and musician who founded the famed Aashyana library, while his uncle, Agha Badruddin, helped draft the Lahore Resolution and later served as the Sindh Assembly’s speaker. His father, Agha Sadaruddin, a mechanical engineer and PPP loyalist, also presided over the Sindh Assembly during Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s government — making the Durranis the only family in Sindh’s history to have three generations serve as assembly speakers.

Educated at Karachi’s St Patrick’s School and Sindh Muslim Law College, Durrani was inspired by Bhutto’s charisma and populist ideals. He briefly studied in the United States before returning home to enter politics, contesting the 1985 party-less elections alongside his brother Agha Salahuddin. Both lost heavily, but the tables turned in 1988 when Durrani, running under the PPP banner, defeated his rival Nadir Khan Kumario, beginning a long and often dramatic political career.

Known for his fierce loyalty to the PPP and his close friendship with Asif Ali Zardari — said to date back to a youthful scuffle at Karachi’s Hotel Metropole — Durrani became a fixture in Sindh politics. He served as local government minister and later, as speaker of the Sindh Assembly, presided with an assertive, often combative style that reflected both his feudal roots and political resilience.

Married into the influential Pagaro family, Durrani embodied the old-school Sindhi political elite — aristocratic, loyal to the Bhutto legacy, and steeped in the traditions of power and patronage. His death closes a chapter in Sindh’s political history, where family, loyalty and legacy often mattered as much as ideology.

Tributes pour in

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah expressed deep sorrow and grief over the passing of Durrani, describing him as a sincere, loyal and principled leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party. The chief minister said Durrani played a vital role in strengthening the Sindh Assembly and upholding democratic traditions in the province. He added that Durrani’s services and dedication to public welfare would always be remembered, noting that he had made serving the people the cornerstone of his politics. Murad Ali Shah prayed for the departed soul’s elevation in ranks and extended condolences to the bereaved family, praying for their patience and strength in this difficult time.

Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon also expressed deep sorrow over the passing of his long-time political associate, Agha Siraj Durrani. Paying tribute to the late PPP leader, Memon said Durrani’s political and social services for the Pakistan Peoples Party and the people of Sindh would remain unforgettable. He described Durrani as a dignified, loyal and seasoned politician who dedicated his life to serving the people of the province.

Memon added that Durrani was not only a sincere member of the PPP but also a staunch supporter of democratic values. His life, Memon said, was marked by tireless efforts for public welfare, the supremacy of democracy, and the protection of people’s rights. He lauded Durrani’s political wisdom, administrative skills and parliamentary experience as a valuable asset to the party, noting that his death had created a void in Sindh’s politics that would be difficult to fill. Extending heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, Memon prayed for Durrani’s elevated place in the hereafter and patience for his loved ones.