Saturday, July 9 2005 12:23 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: : Veteran Congress leader, Islamic scholar and distinguished writer Dr Rafiq Zakaria passed away at his residence here early today (July 9, 2005), family sources said. He was 79.

Zakaria complained of acute back pain shortly before he breathed his last at around 7 am, the sources said.

His body will be shifted to a city hospital later today as one of his sons Farid Zakaria is expected to come from the United States by tomorrow, they said adding, the body is likely to be taken to Aurangabad on Monday for burial.