Prominent Muslim leader, former minster Qamarul Islam passes away

Bengaluru, Sept 18: Qamarul Islam, former minister and prominent Muslim leader and educationist from the Hyderabad-Karnataka region, passed away following a brief illness in the city on Monday. He was 69.

The veteran Congress leader was admitted to hospital 11 days ago for cellulitis of the leg and poor cardiac function.

Dr. Shivaprasad, Senior Consultant and In-charge of Medical ICU, Department of Critical Care at Narayana Health said that he had hypertension, diabetes and was also under treatment for Myasthenia Gravis, a neuromuscular disorder. He died of cardiogenic shock and multi organ failure in the hospital at noon on Monday, the doctor said.

Qamarul Islam had a long political career. He represented Kalaburagi (North) constituency and was Wakf Minister in Siddaramaih cabinet. But, he was dropped from the cabinet in last year’s reshuffle.

As a mark of respect to the departed leader, the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee has cancelled all its scheduled programmes on Monday.

Qamarul Islam is former Member of Parliament and 6 time MLA. He started his political career through Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) in 1978. He had won elections as a Muslim League, Indian National League, Janata Dal and Congress candidate at various times. He was elected to Karnataka Legislative Assembly during the terms 1978-83, 1989-1994, 1994-96, 1999-2004, 2008-2013  and 2013-2017.

He was Member of Parliament from 1996–1998 and also the cabinet minister for Housing and Labour in the administration led by Chief Minister S.M. Krishna from October 1999 to May 2004 and he also served as cabinet minister for Municipal administration, Public Enterprises, Minority Development and waqf led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah cabinet from May 2013 to June 2016.

Qamar ul Islam was born to Noorul Islam in Gulbarga on 27 January 1948. He completed his Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering from PDA College of Engineering, Gulbarga.

He first stood elections in PDA and became the president of the students union, becoming the 1st and last Muslim student to hold the post of students union president in PDA College.

He is professionally an engineer, trader and industrialist, social worker, educationist and an avid sportsperson who enjoys cricket and table tennis during his leisure time.

Qamar Ul Islam has also chaired numerous charitable trusts such as Hazrath Shaik Minhajuddin Ansari Kallerawan Charitable Trust, running K.C.T. Engineering College, Polytechnic Colleges Gulbarga; Hyderabad Karnataka Urdu Front; Meraj Noor Educational and Charitable trust running B.Ed, B. Pharma, D. Pharma & Nursing Colleges and Al Qamar Nursing College.

Also Read: Quamarul Islam: An engineer, sportsman, educationist, community leader and politician