KARACHI: Pir Pagara, a seasoned politician and the spiritual leader of the Hur Jamaat, passed away in London on Tuesday. He was 83.

The ailing chief of the Pakistan Muslim League Functional, Pir Syed Mardan Shah II or the present Pir Pagara, was admitted to Aga Khan University hospital on Nov 24 last year where he underwent a surgery to remove a cyst.

On January 5, he was taken to London by a special air ambulance for treatment of his infected lungs.

He died at the Wellington Hospital at about 11:30pm (PST).

He leaves behind a wife, four sons, three daughters and many grandchildren.

He will be laid to rest in his ancestral town Pir Jo Goth.

According to a TV report, the body of Pir Pagara will be flown from London on Wednesday evening and will reach Karachi on Thursday morning.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani expressed grief over the death of Pir Pagara.

Chief of Muttahida Qaumi Movement Altaf Hussain and leaders of other political parties expressed sorrow and offered condolences to thebereaved family and followers of Pir Pagara.

President Zardari in his message conveyed condolences to the bereaved family.

The president paid rich tribute to Pir Pagara, the veteran politician and spiritual figure, and termed his death a great loss for the country and nation.

The president prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved family and his followers to bear the irrepara-ble loss with fortitude.

In his condolence message, Mr Gilani conveyed his heartfelt condolences and sincere sympathies to sons of the spiritual leader of Hurs and prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul.

The prime minister termed the death of Pir Pagara a great loss to the country and nation.

Acknowledging the invaluable political contribution of the late Pir, the prime minister said that Pir Sahib would be long remembered.

Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan expressed deep sorrow and grief over the death of Pir Pagara.He said that Pir Pagara's role in national politics would never be forgotten.