KARACHI, Feb 8: Zakir Ali Khan, a protagonist of the vision and mission of great reformer and educationist Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, passed away on Wednesday after a protracted illness. He was 86.

Besides his wife, he has left three sons — Nadir Ali Khan, a former international tennis player, Baber Ali Khan and Akber Ali Khan, also renowned tennis players — and a daughter.

His funeral prayers were offered on the premises of the Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association office, near ArtsCouncil. He was laid to rest in the Defence Phase-VII graveyard. The funeral was largely attended by senior government officials and noted literary and sports personalities, besides his relatives and friends.

Soyem for both ladies and gents would be held after Friday prayers at 64-B, Khayaban-i-Ittehad.

The Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET) will remain closed on Thursday to mourn his death, according to a press release.

Born in July 1926 in Rampur (India), Zakir Ali Khan did his matriculation in his hometown, BSc in Aligarh (1945) and BSc (Engineering) in the same city (1948).

In his professional career, the late Mr Khan served as the managing director of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB), chief engineer of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, honorary vice chancellor of the Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology, founder member of the SSUET board of governors, founder member of the Aligarh Institute of Technology governing body, president of the Pakistan Association of Scientists and Scientific Professionals, member of the Karachi University syndicate and member of the KU academic council selection board.

He was elected general secretary of the Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association in 1960 and held this position till his death.

Mr Khan played a key role in setting up the KMC Sports Complex and its centre tennis court, where renowned international tennis player Ilie Nastase of Romania played an international exhibition match with former international champion Saeed Meer in 1980. The tennis court was also visited by Arthur Ashe of the United States.

Zakir Ali Khan was the recipient of the Aligarh Alumni Association, New York, alumni award-2000. He was awarded the First Sir Syed Ahmed Khan International Award for Literature by the Aligarh Muslim University, India, in 2008.

He also played a significant role in establishing the Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association of which he had been the honorary secretary for the last five decades.

He helped promote hockey, tennis and other sports and visited various countries as team manager and served as secretary of the Lawn Tennis Association, Karachi division.