JSQM votes in Bashir Qureshi’s teen son as new party chief
Six months after Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz’s Bashir Khan Qureshi passed away, his son, Sunan Khan Qureshi, was voted in as the unopposed party chairperson on Sunday. He officially took charge on Monday.
While talking to The Express Tribune, 19-year-old Sunan said that he had no plans of joining politics. “My father wanted me to study,” he said trying to impersonate his father’s booming voice. “I will try to make sure that my father’s dreams come true.”
Sunan, who sat for his matriculation examinations privately, is currently doing his intermediate at the Government Degree College in Ratodero. He lives in Gulshan-e-Hadeed, Karachi.
Battling it out
After Qureshi’s death, Dr Niaz Kalani assumed the post of acting-chairperson and did not contest in the elections. However, he did attend the general council meeting which preceded the ballot. Nine executive body seats and 10 general council seat were up for grabs.
Asif Baladi, the party’s former general secretary, lost out on the post of senior vice chairperson to Akash Mallah, a relatively younger party worker who was allegedly picked up by intelligence agencies. All the members on the general council were also elected unopposed. Kehar Ansari and Amjad Mahersar were elected vice chairperson and general secretary, respectively.
The elections took place at the party’s headquarters in Sann, Jamshoro where the party’s ideological leader, GM Syed is buried. The party holds the elections twice a year.
Ikhlaq Jokhio, who is on the party’s three-member election committee, said that around 310 of the party’s congress members voted. He added that this time many new faces were voted in as most of Qureshi’s old entourage either lost or did not contest.
Kalani, and other senior party members such as Munir Hyder Shah, Sagar Hanif Burdi, Najaf Laghari, Faqir Imdad Mangi, left the election hall when the voting started.
“I have not boycotted the elections. I did not fill any forms for the elections or a position in the party,” said Kalani while talking to the media. “I will fight for the party’s cause.” Kalani did not explain why he stepped aside, however, his associates claim that he did so to show that he was not against Qureshi’s family.
“The party’s senior leaders have been trying to dissuade Sunan from standing as chairperson,” said a party leader. “He is too young to cope with the intricacies of politics.” He added that some people wanted to control the party through the 19-year-old.
In the spotlight
Kalani and Sunan have been leading protests all over the province, claiming that Qureshi was poisoned and demanding a medical examination of the body by an independent foreign body.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 11th, 2012.
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When g.m syed was asked to appoint a successor he had said " let workers decide. He who is saleh(of noble charachter) shall lead my mission " same was reply when qureshi was asked after assault on his life. The boy is talented. There is nothing feudal in it. People, workers or other party workers do not feel afraid of him. So he hasn't usurped the office by force. And its not him who had tried to commit suicide. His younger brother had. That lad is 12 years old and was dearly missing his father who was killed for adhering to politics of non violence.
Pakistanis crave never ending crave for masters needs no logic or merit.
This is a WRONG decision, why would they do this to young man, he should be in school not in his politics, his mother would have been right choice, if the intent was to maintain the unity within the party. There is no doubt that at present JSQM is the most ill-organized and popular political movement within Sindhi society, their reach and flag has literally reached to every corner of the province, the socio-economic composition of this party hails largely from lower middle class. Nationalist politics in Sindh has been forward looking, progressive and liberal, it adheres to liberal democratic values, by selecting son of an ex-leader JSQM too has shown upholding feudal political values, practices by the power hungry politicians in the family. This is absolutely wrong precedent, inheritance and heredity in political hiership/succession is not acceptable. Also JSQM needs to redefine its political programs, in addition to Political ideals/agenda they have, they need to include social justice, building support system to rural mass who is on mercy of fuedals, violence against women should also be on their agenda, if they are there really to bring a change in Sindhi society. Mere political slogans do not bring change, their workers, who are present in every small an big town, should be seen sources of change, not empty whistles.
So now I would like PTI and PMLN to take a jab against JSQM as they keep criticising PPP. Lets not have double standards.
Is he the one who attempted suicide?
Democracy is the best revenge. (Thumbs up)
So, no difference in this regards between JSQM and PPP, PML-N, ANP