Gohar Ayub Khan, the former National Assembly speaker and son of former president of Pakistan Ayub Khan, died in a private hospital in Islamabad after a brief illness on Friday.

He was the father of Omar Ayub Khan, the PTI secretary general.

Gohar, who hailed from the Pashtun tribe, joined the Pakistan Army as a commissioned officer in 1959 and resigned as captain in 1962, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported.

He participated in the general elections of 1977, 1988, 1990, and 1997 from the platform of different political parties.

Throughout his political career, he held key positions such as the NA speaker, minister for foreign affairs, and minister for water and power.

Following the imposition of emergency by General Musharraf on October 12, 1999, he quit active politics. Later, his son, Omar entered the political arena by contesting in the 2002 general elections.

Omar said that his father passed away after a brief illness.

“His Namaz-e-Janaza will be offered at 3:00 pm on Saturday, 18th November, 2023 at Village Rehana, District Haripur. Qul will be offered at 11 am at Omar Ayub Khan’s residence Main G.T Road Haripur on 19th November, 2023,” he wrote in a post on X.

President Arif Alvi offered his condolences to the bereaved family.

“May Allah forgive the deceased, give him a place in Jannah al-Firdus and grant patience to his family, Ameen,” he said.

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar was grieved over the death of former National Assembly speaker Gohar Ayub.

In a statement shared by PTV News, he prayed for the departed soul and offered his condolences to the family.