Condolence: Veteran leftist passes away

LAHORE: Activist Jamil Umer passed away on Monday. He was 61. Awami Worker Party general secretary Farooq Tariq, a long time colleague, said that Umer had taught software engineering at the Quaid-i-Azam University during the 1970s. He said that Umer had been arrested during Ziaul Haq’s era for writing several pamphlets against the military regime. Tariq said Umer had also been detained at the Lahore Fort before being transferred to several other prisons. He was in detention for eight years. After his release, Umer became a part of the Professor Group, an alliance of left-leaning academics.Umer also served as the Punjab general secretary of the Awami National Party. Umer edited the Awami Jamhoori Forum magazine till his death. “When the mainstream media were gagged under the Zia regime, Umer worked tirelessly against the oppression,” said Professor Azizudin Ahmed, a colleague and a friend.“When he was diagnosed with heart problems, many people warned him to slow down but he wouldn’t listen. His energy was amazing.” he said. The funeral will be held on Tuesday at Daru Salam Colony, 5 Osman Block at 5pm.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 18^th, 2014.