Lahore, December 16,2025: Former Punjab chief minister and senior Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Mian Manzoor Wattoo has passed away, party and family sources confirmed on Tuesday. Funeral arrangements will be announced later.
Mian Manzoor Wattoo served as chief minister of Punjab in 1993 and also held key positions, including Speaker of the Punjab Assembly and Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs, during his long political career.
President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep grief over his demise. In a post on the Presidency’s X account, the president paid tribute to Wattoo’s “invaluable public service, his role in strengthening democracy, and his contributions to national unity.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also condoled Wattoo’s death. According to state-run APP, the prime minister said in a statement that the “services of late Manzoor Wattoo for the country’s politics will always be remembered.”
PPP leaders from central Punjab conveyed their condolences, saying the party leadership and workers stood with the bereaved family in this moment of grief. Former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf said the party shared the family’s sorrow, while Hasan Murtaza prayed for the late leader’s eternal peace.
PPP leader Shahzad Saeed Cheema extended prayers for patience and strength for Wattoo’s family, including Khurram Jahangir Wattoo, Jahanzeb Wattoo, Muazzam Wattoo, Zeeshan Wattoo, Robina Shaheen Wattoo, Jahaan Ara Wattoo, and Amna Wattoo.
Leaders from other provinces also paid tribute to the veteran politician. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi expressed deep sorrow over Wattoo’s passing, praising his political services and extending heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. He prayed that Allah grant the late leader a place in Jannah and give his family patience and strength.
Governor Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi termed Wattoo’s death a “significant loss to national politics,” saying he remained committed to national interests and public service throughout his career and was known as a sincere and principled political figure.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah also expressed profound grief, saying, “With his passing, the nation has lost a wise and experienced political figure.”
Mian Manzoor Wattoo’s political career spanned several decades and multiple parties. He began his political journey with the Pakistan Muslim League (PML) from 1985 to 1993, later joining PML (Junejo) from 1993 to 1995 and PML (Jinnah) from 1995 to 2002. He was part of PML-Q from 2002 to 2008, joined the Pakistan Peoples Party from 2008 to 2018, briefly aligned with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) from 2018 to 2020, and rejoined the PPP in 2020.
His death marks the end of an era in Punjab politics, with leaders across party lines acknowledging his long public service and political experience.
