Senator Prof Sajid Mir - the head of Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadith and former senator - passed away in Lahore on Saturday. He was 87.

According to family sources, Prof Mir had been unwell for several months, having undergone spinal surgery and a heart bypass operation that left him bedridden. He breathed his last at a local hospital in the early hours of the morning.

Born on October 2, 1938, in a religious Kashmiri family in Sialkot, Prof Mir was a distinguished academic and religious scholar. A relative of the renowned Islamic scholar Muhammad Ibrahim Mir Sialkoti, he earned a Master’s degree in English literature in 1960 and later completed a Master’s in Islamic Studies in 1969 — both from the University of the Punjab.

Before entering public life, Prof Mir served as a teacher in Nigeria and returned to Pakistan in 1985, where he began actively participating in religious and political activities. He was elected senator for the first time in 1994 on a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) ticket and went on to serve multiple terms in the upper house of parliament.

During his long parliamentary career, Prof Mir served as chairperson of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology and was a member of several other Senate bodies, including the Committees on Rules of Procedure and Privileges, Government Assurances, and Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development.

He was most recently elected to the Senate in 2009 on a seat reserved for technocrats and ulema.

In February this year, Prof Mir was elected as the Ameer of Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadith Pakistan for a record seventh time — a testament to his influence within the religious party and his standing among peers.

He also played an instrumental role in bolstering Pakistan’s religious diplomacy, particularly in maintaining and strengthening ties with Saudi Arabia.

Condolences poured in from political and religious leaders across the country. PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, with whom Prof Mir had a longstanding association, expressed deep sorrow over the loss, calling him “a steadfast and sincere leader who rendered invaluable services to Islam and Pakistan.”

Funeral arrangements will be announced by the family later.

Condolences pour in over Prof Sajid Mir’s demise

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz expressed deep sorrow over the demise of the Ameer of Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadith, calling him "a beacon of Islamic scholarship and moderation." She extended heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved family and the wider religious community.

Former Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz noted that Prof Sajid Mir’s death was “a blow to the Islamic world,” adding that he was not only a prominent religious scholar but also a seasoned parliamentarian. “With his passing, the Senate has lost an experienced and dignified voice,” he said, acknowledging his long-standing association with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and his contributions to the promotion of Islamic traditions.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also mourned the loss, describing Prof Sajid Mir as "a visionary political figure and religious scholar whose absence has left a void that only a martyr could fill." In a statement posted on social media, the prime minister said, “The sympathies of the entire nation, including mine, are with the family of Sajid Mir.”

Federal Minister Abdul Aleem Khan, president of the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party, called Prof Mir’s passing a loss felt across all political circles. “His religious and political services will be remembered for generations,” he said, offering prayers for the departed soul.

JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman termed Prof Sajid Mir’s death an "irreparable loss to the Islamic world," praising his role as a moderate and advocate of unity. “We benefited from his experience both inside and outside Parliament,” he said, adding that Prof Mir's commendable character and comprehensive services made him a unique figure in religious-political discourse.

Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Hafiz Naeemur Rehman offered condolences to the workers and officials of Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadith and appreciated Prof Sajid Mir’s national services. Former JI chief Sirajul Haq also expressed sorrow and offered prayers for the late scholar.

Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain remembered him as "a great religious, academic, and political figure" whose contributions would long be remembered.