OUR STAFF REPORTER LAHORE - Former hockey Olympian Munir Ahmad Dar, who won laurels in hockey to Pakistan in late 50's, died here in wee hours on Wednesday and was laid to rest in the afternoon at Defence graveyard. Qul of Munir Dar will be held on Thursday (today) at 5 pm at Allah-o-Akbar mosque E Block Phase I defence. 76-year-old Dar - known as one of the finest fullbacks Pakistan has ever produced - belonged a hockey lineage and had the unique distinction of representing the country in the first-ever appearance of Pakistan team in 1956 Melbourne Olympics where they won silver medal. Dar was again part of the silver medal winner Pakistan Olympic team which lost to India in the final of 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Known for his wits among his family members and friends, Dar was suffering from lungs cancer for the last six months. Dar, an out-spoken and friendly figure, remained attached with the hockey and other sports till his last breath, being the founder member of a hockey academy being run in the memory of his late brother, Tanvir Dar, an established penalty corner shooter of the past. Besides hockey, he has a great passion for horses and owned horses which were regularly participating in Lahore Horse Club races. His passion with horses got stronger and he was known as an authority on top horses of the country. He was also the President of All Pakistan Jokey Club. He had a long association with the Pakistan Karate Federation and was its president for many years. He was also an executive committee member of Pakistan Rugby Union. A large number of former hockey Olympians including his old time buddy, Khawaja Zaka-ud-Din and Akhtar Rasool, President Pakistan Hockey Federation Qasim Zia, Secretary Asif Bajwa, Rana Mujahid, former secretary PHF Brig (retd) Mussaratullah Khan, former international player Qasim Khan, President Pakistan Rugby Union Fowzi Khawaja, Secretary Arif Saeed and a large number of friends and family members attended the funeral prayers held at Allah-o-Akbar Mosque defence. He left behind three sons and a wife to mourn his death. His two sons Tauqir Dar and Taseer Dar were also hockey player and the third one Tafseer played cricket at domestic level.