KARACHI:
Leader of Sindhi nationalist party Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) Bashir Qureshi passed away in the early hours of Saturday in Sakrand after complaining of chest pains. The exact cause of death is yet to be determined.
Qureshi, a follower of iconic nationalist G M Syed, was en route from Sakrand to Larkana and reportedly complained of chest pains after dinner. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Business activity came to a standstill in Sindh and exams were cancelled in several districts. Qureshi’s party, the JSQM, has called for a three-day mourning period. Qureshi’s funeral prayers and burial took place in Ratodero, Larkana district on Saturday evening. The nationalist leader is survived by his spouse, four daughters and three sons.
Qureshi, who was in his early 50s, began his political career when he joined the Jeay Sindh Students Federation while he was enrolled at the Sindh Agriculture University, Tando Jam. He played an active role in the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy during General Ziaul Haq’s regime. The deceased leader’s party recently organised an Independence March in Karachi which was attended by hundreds of thousands of people across the province.
Condolences poured in from key political leaders, including President Asif Ali Zardari, Pakistan Peoples Party chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain, the head of Pakistan Muslim League-Functional Pir Sadruddin Shah Rashidi, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairperson Imran Khan and the vice-chancellor of Qureshi’s alma mater.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 8th, 2012.
COMMENTS (4)
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I am sorry to say but He was a leader par excellence, the reason nationalist parties exist is because there is inequality and accidents like Bangladesh happen. Sindh gets 10% of the income that it gives from its Badin, Tando Allahyar and Dahrki oil and gas fields. It produces billions of rupees and federal govt takes it and spends on Punjab and its army. If you ignore reality, you will have yourself to blame when another bangladesh happens... learn from the mistakes of the past and see how well bangla taaka is doing compared to our country. Racism is the reason we are unable to stand other races as rulers, If you have lived in Sindh as I have, you would know that there is so many lies and anti propanda on TV about it that I feel ashamed infront of its people. Pakistan has been a failed experiment as it refuses to act as a country and a nation instead of suppressing or ignoring the voice of the people, it would do us a lot of good and may be Pakistan will be saved!
Without any evidence JSQM'S worker's are crying that Bashir khan has been murdered.the so called nationalist are BHATTA MAFIA ,they run there organization with the money of BHATTA,all the nationalist parties in sindh are crushing poor's & innocents.stop supporting so called NATIONALIST'S.be Pakistani,,and do not highlight them,just ignore it,they spoke against Pakistan in front of media and there is no law for them ,even police did not touch them when they kill any one, that's the ignorance of law
What is unfair is how Sindhi Nationalist parties are using this great leader's death to further their own agendas.
Without any evidence whatsoever,they have attempted to stoke ethnic fire in Sindh by claiming he "died of unnatural causes" i.e was MURDERED,which is resulting in protests in certain parts of the province.
Their 'evidence' is that he never complained of cardiac problems before and so couldn't have died of a naturally caused heart attack. That is not good enough as many fatal cardiac arrest cases are registered for people who have never suffered cardiac arrest before. Like all politicians they are looking for petty excuses to exploit for political gains,no matter how damaging the outcome.
Neither G.M Sayyed nor Bashir Qureshi died. Both are are alive and just went under ground forever. Such leaders dont die just leave. And leave great memories and ideas behind. Beacons never misguide. May Allah forgive him. Singhis should never forget him. I would never say good bye to Bashir Qureshi i am from the same university from he jumped to height of respect and glory.