Veteran politician Hakim Ali Zardari breathed his last Tuesday after a protracted illness. He was 81.

Late Hakim Ali Zardari was born in 1930 in a village of Nawabshah Fatuhal Zardari Goth, and spent an active political life.

Hakim Ali belonged to a migrant Baluch tribe that had settled in Sindh and was an agriculturist. He learnt the intricacies of the family profession from his father Mohammad Hussain Zardari.

Also known as Raees Hakim Ali Khan, he started his political career in 1965 from Sindh from Zila Council Nawabshah. He participated in the election campaign of Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah against General Ayub Khan.

He was first elected as member of National Assembly in 1970 on the ticket of Pakistan Peoples Party and was again elected in 1988 and than in 1993. He was one of the close companions of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

He served in various capacities and served as federal minister twice and as Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee and Chairman Finance Committee.

He left behind a son Asif Ali Zardari and two daughters Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho and Faryal Talpur. His first wife Dr Zareen Ara Zardari, who was issueless and died in November 2002. He had three children from second wife Bilquis Sultana.