ISLAMABAD, Nov 26: Renowned dental surgeon Dr Zafar Niazi died in Mianwali on Tuesday after suffering from cardiac arrest.

He was 72. He is survived by his wife, a son, Sultan Qamar Niazi, and four daughters. He will be laid to rest in Islamabad graveyard H-8, on Wednesday. Funeral procession will leave from H.No. 3, St.No. 24, F-6/2. Prayers will be offered at the Islamabad graveyard at 1:30pm.

Dr Niazi was a very kind-hearted person. He was a man of integrity, lover of nature and had a very pleasant personality. He and his family members worked with devotion and dedication for the cause of democracy and restoration of basic human rights.

Dr Niazi had been associated with former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto from the very outset of the founding of PPP. He was very close to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Begum Nusrat Bhutto and other members of the family, including Benazir Bhutto.

He remained associated with them during their difficult and hard political period.

Begum Nusrat Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto used to stay at his residence during General Zia’s era. His residence almost became a centre of intense political activities, and remained surrounded by intelligence agencies round the clock in those days.

Dr Zafar Niazi had also been sent to jail on fake cases during Gen Zia’s martial law. He also lived in self exile for some years.

He founded a school in his hometown Mianwali and had a keen desire to do something for the poor and deprived people of his town.

Dr Niazi was very popular among diplomats for his political connections.

Meanwhile, former prime minister Benazir Bhutto has expressed her condolence over the demise of Dr Zafar Niazi.