Voice of resistance against martial law dies unsung

The voice that sang the anthems of resistance against the tyrannical rule of Zia regime was silenced by death forever. Long forgotten and neglected, Muhammad Yaqub Khaskheli, was once the life of protest rallies in Sindh.

Yaqub Khaskheli, a devoted PPP jiyala known for his revolutionary and resistance poetry during General Zia's martial law and the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy (MRD), passed away. His funeral prayers and burial were held in his ancestral village, Arain Teel, Tando Bago taluka.

Khaskheli composed dozens of songs in praise of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, which were rendered in political and protest gatherings with melody, inspiring and energising PPP workers. His revolutionary anthems became a symbol of courage and resistance during Zia's authoritarian rule and the MRD movement.

He also had the honour of performing his poetry in the presence of prominent political leaders, including Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, Rasool Bux Palijo, Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan, and Shaheed Fazil Rahu.

According to family sources, Khaskheli had been suffering from illness and financial hardship for several years. Despite his contributions, he remained neglected by the PPP government and local leadership, a grievance he often voiced during his lifetime.