President condoles Akbarali Heptulla's demise

New Delhi, Sep 5: President Pratibha Devisingh Patil has condoled the demise of Akbarali A Heptulla, husband of Rajya Sabha Member and BJP leader Najma Heptulla.

In a condolence message, the President said she ''is saddened to learn about the passing away of Shri Akbarali A. Heptulla'' and conveyed her condolences to Dr. Heptulla and the other members of the family.

Heptullah, 75, died here yesterday morning following some stomach ailment. He was taken to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), where doctors declared him brought dead.

The burial will take place on Friday after the arrival of his two daughters from the US and one from Canada, family sources said.

Heptullah was instrumental in the establishment of the "Patriot" newspaper in the 1960s.

UNI