Begum Shamim Khan, widow of former president of Pakistan Ghulam Ishaq Khan, passed away on Friday at the age of 83. Her funeral prayers were offered at Ladies'Club, University Town Peshawar. Beside her close relatives, different political leaders, government officials and local residents also attended the funeral prayer at large.
She was later laid to rest in Durrani Graveyard of the University Town. Her Fateha would be held at Ghulam Ishaq Khan House, University Town, Peshawar. She was the mother-in-law of Anwar Saifullah Khan, Irfanullah Marwat, and Saleem Jhagra and maternal grand-mother of former Senator Usman Saifullah, KP Finance Minister Taimur Saleem Jhagra and member KP Assembly Samar Bilour.
Meanwhile, members of the GIK Institute's faculty and staff have expressed their deepest condolences at the demise of Pakistan's former first lady in a meeting held soon after receiving the news about her sad passing away. Engr Jehangir Bashar, Rector GIK Institute, Professor Dr Jameel-Un Nabi, Pro-Rector (Academics), Pro-Rector (Administration and Finance) Sardar Aminullah Khan and other academic staff said very few people are aware of her dynamic role but she stood like a rock with Ghulam Ishaq Khan who was regarded as a strong-willed figure and one of Pakistan's most powerful presidents.
On this day, the GIK Institute commemorates the legacy and contributions of ex-president Ghulam Ishaq Khan. As the founding president of GIK's parent body, Society for the Promotion of Engineering Sciences and Technology (SOPREST), he played an instrumental role in the inception of GIK Institute in 1988 and its eventual establishment in 1993. No wonder the Center of Excellence was named after the great Ghulam Ishaq Khan as GIK Institute of Engineering Sciences & Technology.
Begum Sahiba had to confront unprecedented grief when her husband, Ghulam Ishaq Khan passed away on October 27, 2006. In his absence she tactfully handled all affairs of their family and fully supported her only son Mamoon Ishaq Khan. The couple also has four daughters. They offered fateha that may Allah rest her soul in peace and give courage to his family to bear this immense loss.