Raja Mohammad Ali, a childhood friend of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, passed away in Chakwal district in central Pakistan at the age of 78.
Mr. Ali, a resident of Gah village, died of a heart attack early on Friday. He was buried in the village graveyard.
The people of Gah were planning to hold a special event to celebrate Dr. Singh's birthday on September 26, but the ceremony was cancelled following Mr. Ali's death.
Mr. Ali, who had served as chairman of the local union council, owned a shop in Chakwal city's grain market.
Due to his friendship with the Indian premier, Gah was declared a model village and many development projects were launched there.
Mr. Ali has always advocated the need for peace between India and Pakistan.
He and Dr. Singh were classmates in a primary school in Gah and Mr. Ali used to call the Indian premier by his nickname “Mohna.”
They studied together till Class IV before Dr. Singh's family migrated to India.
Mr. Ali's relatives informed friends in Amritsar about his death and the news was subsequently conveyed to the Prime Minister's Office.
His wish to meet his childhood friend came true in 2008, when he visited India on the invitation of Dr. Singh.
On May 30, 2008, the two met in New Delhi and Mr. Ali gifted a 110-year-old shawl, ‘Chakwali jutti' (shoes) and soil and water from Gah to Dr. Singh.
In return, Dr. Singh gifted Mr. Ali a turban and an embroidered shawl.
