LAHORE: Former Punjab chief minister and veteran politician Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo passed away in Lahore on Tuesday, bringing an end to a long and complex political career that spanned more than four decades. He was 86 years old.
The news of his passing was shared by his grandson, columnist Hassan Kamal Wattoo, through a post on social media platform X. In his message, he expressed deep sorrow and confirmed that funeral prayers would be held at Wasawewala Stadium in Okara at 2pm on Wednesday. Wattoo’s death has prompted an outpouring of condolences from political leaders across party lines.
President Asif Ali Zardari expressed profound grief over the former chief minister’s demise. In a message shared via the Presidency’s official X account, the president paid tribute to Wattoo’s long public service, his role in strengthening democratic traditions, and his contributions to national unity. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also condoled the death, saying that the late politician’s services to Pakistan’s politics would always be remembered.
Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo was born on August 14, 1939, in Deepalpur, a town in Punjab’s Okara district. He began his political journey at the local government level and was first elected chairman of the Okara district council in 1983. His rise through provincial politics was swift, and he became a member of the Punjab Assembly in 1985, later serving as its speaker.
Wattoo remained a prominent figure in Punjab politics through the late 1980s and early 1990s. Initially elected as an independent, he later joined the Pakistan Muslim League and became speaker of the Punjab Assembly multiple times. In 1993, following political realignments, he successfully became chief minister of Punjab with the support of the Pakistan Peoples Party, despite having a relatively small number of assembly members backing him.
His tenure as chief minister was marked by political maneuvering, and his relationship with the PPP eventually deteriorated, leading to his replacement in 1995. Over the years, Wattoo formed and joined several political parties, including PML-Jinnah, PML-Q, PPP, and later Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, reflecting his adaptability in Pakistan’s shifting political landscape.
Wattoo also faced legal challenges during his career, including corruption cases that resulted in a conviction and a period of incarceration, though he was later acquitted. During the Musharraf era, he emerged as a close ally of the military ruler and merged his faction into PML-Q on Musharraf’s advice.
In 2008, Wattoo returned to parliament after winning as an independent candidate and later joined the PPP, serving as federal minister for Kashmir affairs from 2008 to 2013. He was appointed PPP’s central Punjab president in 2012, a move that surprised many within the party. After brief political shifts in later years, he rejoined the PPP last year.
Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo is remembered as a shrewd and influential political figure who remained relevant across changing political eras, leaving behind a lasting imprint on Punjab and national politics.
