Tributes paid : Jam Saqi fought for rights of poor class: activists

Leftist leader remained associated with several political movements

MULTAN: Jam Saqi always struggled for the rights of poor people and was a symbol of resistance against martial laws.

These views expressed by  activists from left-wing parties and Communist Party of Pakistan (CPP) while paying tributes to the life long struggle and services of late Jam Saqi.

They said there were many left-wing activists that struggled hard for democracy but Saqi faced the longest imprisonment of more than ten years during Ziaul Haq’s martial law.

While speaking to The Express Tribune, CPP secretary general Imdad Qazi said Jam Saqi joined CPP in 1967 when he was studying in a college in Hyderabad. He was the pioneer of Sindh National Students Federation and launched struggle against field marshal Ayub Khan, he added.

Qazi maintained that Jam Saqi developed relations with peasants and labour class and initiated a movement for their rights.

He said Saqi played a key role in Sindh Hari Committee, particularly after the death of comrade Hyder Buksh Jatoi.

“The CPP awarded him party membership on the completion of due political process of struggle. Soon he was inducted in CPP Sindh committee in light of his performance, struggle and commitment,” he mentioned.

He said the CPP elected him as party secretary and was inducted in CPP’s central executive committee after six years of his struggle in 1973.

Imdad Qazi pointed out that the CPP elected him as party’s secretary general after due political process of 23 years in 1990.

“The left-wing politics remained a challenge in Pakistan and always passed through ordeals. The state oppression remained critical since 1954 to 1988 but Jam Saqi did not compromise and continued his political struggle in all difficulties,” he elaborated.

Similarly, CPP Punjab ex-secretary general Syed Irfan Haider Shamsi paid rich tributes to Jam Saqi on struggling for the rights of the downtrodden classes.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 8^th, 2018.