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Gha Siraj Khan Durrani, a Pakistan Peoples Party stalwart and three-time Speaker of the Sindh Assembly, leaves behind a formidable political legacy. His political career spanned four decades. His name was once synonymous with the Speaker’s chair – a position his father and an uncle held before him.
Born on 5 October 1953, Garhi Yasin, Shekarpur, Durrani received his early education at St. Patrick’s High School, Karachi before obtaining a degree in commerce and later an LLB from the Sindh Muslim Government Law College. Before turning to politics full-time, he lived briefly in the United States, where he ran a hardware business. The experience broadened his perspective.
Politics was his legacy. His father, Agha Sadaruddin, and uncle, Agha Badruddin, both served as Speaker of the Sindh Assembly. Durrani entered active politics in 1985. He formally joined the PPP in 1988, winning his first election that year. Over the decades, he became the most trusted loyalist of the Bhutto family, known for his discipline, courage and steadfast commitment to democracy and federation.
As speaker, a post he first assumed in 2013, Durrani had a reputation for firmness and procedural discipline. His colleagues often described him as “the guardian of the dignity of the Assembly” – a presiding officer who commanded respect even from his critics. He oversaw some of the most contentious sessions in Sindh’s legislative history, yet maintained decorum and constitutional order.
He also served as Acting Governor on three occasions between 2017 and 2022, performing his duties with the same meticulous care that defined his eloquence. During this period, he strengthened the administrative and procedural independence of the Assembly, ensuring that the voice of the legislature remained stable despite political turmoil.
Durrani’s career was not without trials. He faced several legal battles over allegations of undisclosed assets beyond his control – allegations he vehemently denied, and politically motivated. Despite the pressure, he remained steadfast, continuing to preside over the assembly whenever permitted. His inflexibility during these years made him a symbol of infamy for many in the PPP.
Throughout his political journey, Agha Siraj Durrani remained steadfast in his loyalty to the party and the Bhutto legacy. Balwal Bhutto-Zidardari described him as “a symbol of tolerance and patience, who upheld democratic values even under immense pressure.” President Asif Ali Zardari called him “a son of Sindh who served the province with honor and conviction.” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised his “commitment to the federation and his invaluable services to parliamentary democracy”. Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah remembered him as “a sincere, loyal and principled man who made public service the centerpiece of his politics.”
In an exclusive conversation with The News on Sunday, PPP leader Faisal Mir paid a deeply personal tribute:
“Agha Siraj Durrani was not just a parliamentarian. He was a symbol of unwavering political commitment and steadfast loyalty to democratic values. Throughout his life, he stood shoulder to shoulder with Shahid Mahatma Benazir Bhutto during the toughest challenge of our political struggle. He fell for a single moment.
“His long-standing association with President Asif Ali Zardari reflected trust, political acumen and a shared commitment to strengthening the Federation of Pakistan. His relationship with Chairman Balwal Bhutto Zardari was one of ideological guidance and political guidance. He was his closest practitioner. Role in maintaining party unity, discipline and organizational strength in Sindh and beyond.”
“His close relationship with the PPP workers at the grassroots level is his highlight. He treated every Jiyala not as a supporter but as a partner in the struggle. He was approachable, sympathetic and deeply respectful of the party workers, who always saw him as his own.”
“As Speaker of the Sindh Assembly, he conducted the House with dignity, fairness and remarkable patience even at a time of intense political polarization. He protected parliamentary traditions and proved that politics, at its best, is a matter of character and resilience.
“His services to democracy, constitutional continuity, provincial autonomy and political harmony will forever be remembered with great respect. Today, we mourn not just a political leader, we mourn a committed democrat, an institutional figure and a true exponent of Shaheed Bhutto’s mission.”
Beyond the walls of the Assembly, Durrani was hailed as a man of the people. In Shekarpur, he was known not only as a legislator but also as a compassionate problem-solver—accessible, deeply connected to the base and his constituents. He won development projects, resolved local disputes and maintained a relationship with PPP activists that went far beyond political convenience.
Agha Siraj Durrani’s life mirrors the evolution of Sindh’s political culture – from the years of martial law to the era of democratic stability. He embodied the resilience of a generation that resisted persecution, imprisonment and propaganda, yet refused to give up faith in democracy.
He is survived by a family that will inherit not only his name but also an immense political legacy of service, conviction and integrity. His colleagues and opponents alike agree that Agha Siraj Durrani was more than a politician – he was a defender of parliamentary dignity and a firm believer in Pakistan’s democratic continuity.
His name will endure in the political history of Sindh – as a man who occupied the speaker’s chair longer than anyone before him, and whose calm authority and loyalty to democratic principles shaped an entire era of provincial politics.
The author is an award-winning investigative journalist based in Lahore. This can be reached at x @hassannaqvi5.
