Irfan Siddiqui
Raja Raja Irfan-ul-Haque Siddiqui | |
|---|---|
عرفان الحق صدیقی | |
| Member of the Senate of Pakistan | |
| In office March 2021 – 10 November 2025 | |
| Succeeded by | Abid Sher Ali |
| Constituency | Punjab Province |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Irfan-ul-Haque Siddiqui |
| Died | 10 November 2025 Islamabad, Pakistan |
| Party | PMLN (2014–2025) |
| Education | University of the Punjab |
| Occupation | Politician Columnist |
| Awards | Hilal-e-Imtiaz (2014) |
Raja Irfan-ul-Haque Siddiqui (Urdu: عرفان الحق صدیقی; died 10 November 2025) was a Pakistani politician and columnist senior figure of the Pakistan Muslim League (N). He served as a member of the Senate of Pakistan representing Punjab Province from March 2021 until his death and held key roles including Parliamentary Party Leader of PML-N in the Senate and Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs.[1][2][3] He died on 10 November 2025 in Islamabad after a fortnight-long hospitalisation for severe respiratory complications.[4]
Life and career
Siddiqui was a member of the Pakistan Muslim League (N).[2] He also served as special adviser on national affairs to Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif.[3][5][6]
During Nawaz Sharif's second reign, Siddiqui served as the press secretary of the former President of Pakistan Rafiq Tarar.[6]
In 2019, he was arrested and charged for allegedly violating a tenancy law.[7] He was held in judicial remand[7] and subsequently released on bail.[8] The PML-N accused the police of targeting him for his association with Nawaz Sharif.[7]
His served as a Member of the Senate of Pakistan from March 2021 until his death, representing Punjab Province, on a general seat under the Pakistan Muslim League (N).[9] He also served as Parliamentary Party Leader of PML-N in the Senate and was Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs.[10]
He supported the twenty-sixth amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan.[11]
Writings
In May 2024, he published a book titled PTI and Pakistan: From Cypher to Final Call, a compilation of 56 Urdu-language columns written between April 2022 and December 2024. The columns, originally published in various newspapers, analyse the political trajectory of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), including the alleged foreign conspiracy (the "cypher"), internal party dynamics, and the broader political crisis in Pakistan. The book spans 232 pages and was released by Aks Publishers in Lahore.[12][failed verification]
Death
Siddiqui died on 10 November 2025 in Islamabad after being hospitalised 14 days earlier for respiratory complications.[13][14]
Awards
- Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Crescent of Excellence) Award by the President of Pakistan in 2014.[3][15]
References
- ^ Chaudhary, Asif Bashir (11 November 2025). "PML-N stalwart Senator Irfan Siddiqui passes away". www.geo.tv.
- ^ a b "Irfan Siddiqui - Member, Senate of Pakistan (2021-2027)". Senate of Pakistan website. Archived from the original on 21 March 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
- ^ a b c "Irfan Siddiqui made special assistant to PM (Prime Minister)". The News International newspaper. 28 January 2014. Archived from the original on 14 June 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
- ^ "PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui passes away". The Express Tribune. 10 November 2025.
- ^ "Prime Minister constituted a committee for effective mechanism on media conduct". Prime Minister's Office, Islamabad, Pakistan. 8 May 2014. Archived from the original on 2 July 2014. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
- ^ a b "(Prime Minister) PM appoints Irfan Siddiqui as special adviser". The Nation newspaper. 28 January 2014. Archived from the original on 18 December 2017. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
- ^ a b c Qarar, Shakeel (27 July 2019). "Irfan Siddiqui, former aide to Nawaz Sharif, sent to jail on 14-day judicial remand". Dawn.
- ^ Guramani, Nadir (10 November 2025). "PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui passes away in Islamabad after brief illness". Dawn. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
- ^ "Senate of Pakistan".
- ^ "No proposal to replace President Zardari: Irfan Siddiqui". The Express Tribune. 7 July 2025.
- ^ "Its time to halt institutional disruption with full force: Senator Irfan Siddiqui". 21 October 2024.
- ^ "Senator Irfan Siddiqui's New Book 'PTI And Pakistan: From Cypher To Final Call' Published". UrduPoint. 25 May 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
- ^ "PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui passes away in Islamabad". The News. 10 November 2025. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
- ^ "PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui passes away". The Express Tribune.
- ^ "روزنامہ دنیا :- پاکستان:-عرفان صدیقی،ملالہ سمیت 115 شخصیا ت کو آج اعلیٰ سول اعزازات دیئے جائینگے". Roznama Dunya: روزنامہ دنیا :-.