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

Qamarul Islam 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 said that Qamarul Islam 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 Walf Minister in Siddaramaih cabinet. 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.