KOHAT: Former Senator and federal minister Abbas Afridi has succumbed to critical injuries sustained in a gas leakage explosion, his family confirmed on Friday.
The tragic incident occurred a day earlier when a gas leak triggered a powerful blast, injuring Afridi and three of his associates. Afridi was rushed to the Burn Centre in Kharian, where he was placed under intensive care. Despite medical efforts, he passed away due to the severity of his burns and injuries, said his nephew Hussain Afridi. Family sources stated that arrangements for Abbas Afridi’s funeral prayers are underway and the schedule will be announced later.
Abbas Afridi’s political career began with his election to the Senate of Pakistan in March 2009 as an independent candidate. During his time in the upper house, he was known for his active involvement in legislative matters and party negotiations. In March 2014, Afridi was appointed as the Federal Minister for Textile Industry, where he oversaw key developments and policy discussions aimed at reviving Pakistan’s struggling textile exports, a cornerstone of the country’s economy.
Afridi sought to transition to direct electoral politics in the 2018 general elections, contesting from NA-32 Kohat on a Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) ticket. He received 44,154 votes but was defeated by Shehryar Afridi, a prominent figure of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Undeterred, Abbas Afridi returned to the political arena in the 2024 general elections, this time contesting from NA-35 Kohat. Although he improved his vote tally to 58,034, he was once again defeated by Shehryar Afridi, who was running as an independent candidate backed by PTI amidst the party’s electoral restrictions.
In a significant political move, on June 25, 2024, Abbas Afridi officially left PML-N and joined the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). His decision to switch political allegiances was seen by many as a strategic repositioning ahead of upcoming political realignments and potential by-elections.
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