Sindhi politician, rights activist Jam Saqi passes away

HYDERABAD: Veteran Sindhi politician Jam Saqi passed away in Hyderabad, local media reported on Monday.

Family sources confirmed the death and told that Saqi died of kidney failure. He was also suffering from multiple ailments, they added, informing that Saqi will be laid to rest in Hyderabad.

Born on October 31, 1944, the veteran left-wing politician was a staunch supporter of communism. He was among the leaders who laid the foundation of Communist Party of Pakistan. Saqi served as its general secretary.

Later on, in the 1990s, he joined Pakistan Peoples Party. Saqi was also a rights activist. He was a council member of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.

Also dubbed as the ‘chain holder’, he was arrested in 1978 during the Zia regime and tried before a military court in the 80s. He was jailed for about seven years until 1988.

During Saqi’s trial, former prime minister Benazir Bhutto herself appeared as a witness and said that ‘Saqi is patriotic citizen of the state’.

Condolence poured in on Twitter after the sad demise:

Death of Jam Saqi is the death of ideological politics. He faced prison and torture but never compromise on his politics. It was also for the first time BB, appeared as his witness in the case. Wali Khan, Bizenjo, Meraj Mohd. Khan others also appeared. I had covered his case.

— Mazhar Abbas (@MazharAbbasGEO) March 5, 2018

History in chains.Jam Saqi and Benazir Bhutto sahiba facing a military court established by Gen Zia.U can see chains on the shoulders of Jam Saqi these chains became necklace of our political history we will always remember the chain holder pic.twitter.com/pcRKiw5t5W

— Hamid Mir (@HamidMirPAK) March 5, 2018

BB appeared in a military court of Gen Zia in Hyderabad to defend jam Saqi who wAs facing treason charges and spent 8 years in Prison. On his release he was welcomed in Lahore by a huge crowd that was organised by CPP I was then Secretary of its Punjab Unit. Those were the days..

— Imtiaz Alam (@ImtiazAlamSAFMA) March 5, 2018

Veteran left-wing activist, former secretary general Communist Party of Pakistan #CPP and hero of 4th March struggle (March 4, 1967, against One Unit) Comrade Jam Saqi passes away today. Rest in Peace #ComradeJamSaqi pic.twitter.com/Im2mUmiIS5

— Amar Guriro (@amarguriro) March 5, 2018

Would like to condole the death of Jam Saqi a veteran politician from Sindh who struggled for the rights of the province A few years he came to meet me with some great ideas. May his soul rest in peace

— Dr. Arif Alvi (@ArifAlvi) March 5, 2018

Meanwhile, President Mamnoon Hussain expressed his grief over the death of progressive and political leader Jam Saqi. The president prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and condoled with the bereaved family, according to a press release. He said late Jam Saqi’s contributions to democracy could never be forgotten.