The central leader of Pakistan People Party (PPP) and former Interior Minister Major General (Retd) Naseerullah Khan Babar died after prolong illness, here in Peshawar on Monday. He was 83 years old. The former federal minister was under treatment at Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Peshawar, for a stroke. Doctors said that he died at 3:30am Monday morning. His dead body was shifted to his native village in Peshawar. Naseerullah Babar was born in Peshawar. His family is from the Babar tribe of Pashtuns and hails from the village of Pirpai district Nowshehra. Babar is a former Pakistan army general and former Inspector General FC. He served as governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from 1975-1977 and as interior minister during Benazir Bhuttos second government from 1993-1996. President Asif Ali Zardari has condoled the death of veteran Party stalwart and former Governor, Federal Minister and Special Assistant to Prime Minister, Maj General (Retd) Naseerulllah Babar and termed his death a great loss for the Party and the nation. Paying glowing tributes to former Interior Minister, the President said that the late Naseerullah Babar worked closely with both Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and was a trusted confidant of both martyred leaders of the Party. In a condolence message to the widow, he said that Naseerullah Babar was a fearless and dauntless leader who belonged to that rare breed of politicians who were fast becoming extinct. Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir had described him as a pillar of strength to her and the Party who responded to every challenge thrown his way with character, courage and resolve. The President further said that the late Naseerullah Babar commanded great respect both among his friends and opponents for his courage, conviction, forthrightness and integrity. The likes of General Babar are not born every day and the void created by him will be hard to fill for a long time to come, he said. The President also prayed "May Allah grant eternal peace to the departed soul and grant courage and fortitude to the bereaved family. Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani in his message also has expressed condolence over the death of former Interior Minister and PPP leader Mr Nasirullah Babar. The Prime Minister, in his message, said that late Mr Nasirullah Babar was a closed associate of Mr Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed. He greatly contributed towards strengthening the Party and will long be respected by Party workers. The Prime Minister prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and give courage and fortitude to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss. Federal ministers, Speaker Deputy Speaker National Assembly, Chairman Senate, Chief PML-N Nawaz Sharif and religious leaders have also expressed condolence over sad demise of Naseerullah Khan and prayed to rest departed soul in eternal peace and grant fortitude to bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss with equanimity.