JSQM votes in Bashir Qureshi’s teen son as new party chief
Party leader claims that new faces have been given a chance.
HYDERABAD:
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.
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.