Bashir Qureshi passed away on April 7 in Sakrand. Doctors concluded that he had died because of food poisoning. PHOTO: FILE
“These protests will only become more spirited and ferocious if those responsible for my father’s murder are not brought to justice,” said Sanan Qureshi, JSQM’s current chairperson, while addressing the protesters.
Qureshi died on April 7, 2012, in Sakrand taluka of Benazirabad. The cause of death after the post morterm was determined as food poisoning. Qureshi’s family and JSQM workers, however, assert that he was poisoned.
They blame the former interior minister, Rehman Malik and directors general of the Inter Services Intelligence and Sindh Rangers for his murder. The party is also pursuing the matter at the Sindh High Court while a district court in Benazirabad has already ordered registration of an FIR according to the version of the complainant.
“We have no hope of getting justice from the government. We want the international community to take notice and support us for an independent inquiry,” demanded Sanan, accusing the state of robbing the rights and resources of the smaller provinces in the name of Islam and federation. “They wanted to kill Bashir Qureshi because he was an advocate of an independent Sindh. He was attacked many times and finally they succeeded.”
The leader said that the party will announce their future course of action on the upcoming first death anniversary of Qureshi on April 7. JSQM’s general secretary, Aakash Mallah, said the state is exploiting Sindh and its native people. He announced that a freedom march will be held in Karachi. The protest disturbed the traffic on the National Highway and vehicles had to take a detour from the Indus Highway.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 25th, 2013.
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