Veteran communist leader and rights activist Jam Saqi passed away in Hyderabad on Monday.
According to family sources, Jam Saqi was suffering from multiple ailments, but the cause of death was kidney failure.
Saqi was born in the village of Jhanji in taluka Chachro, Tharparkar, on October 31, 1944.
He completed his primary education in 1953 from a school in his native village and did his Matriculation in 1963 from the Local Board High School, Chachro.
He completed his second year and Bachelors degree from Sachal Sarmast Arts College in 1964 and 1967, respectively, and later did his Masters in Politics from the University of Sindh, Jamshoro.
He began his political career as part of a student union in 1961, and was elected general secretary of the Hyderabad Students Federation.
Later, he laid the foundation for the Sindh National Students Federation and was elected its founding president.
The left-wing politician from Sindh was a staunch communist. He joined the National Awami Party in 1972 and later served as the general secretary of the Communist Party of Pakistan.
Saqi was arrested in 1978 during late president Ziaul Haq’s regime and tried before a military court in the 1980s. Former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, who appeared before the same court as Saqi’s defense witness, had deposed: “Jam Saqi is a patriotic citizen of the state and must be released.”
He was jailed for about seven years until 1988. His first wife ended her life upon learning that her husband was being tortured in solitary confinement.
He joined the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in the ’90s, and remained a member of the PPP Sindh Council until his death.
He has also been a council member of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and served as special assistant to the former Sindh chief minister Syed Abdullah Shah, on bonded labour.
Saqi has authored seven books and launched newspapers and magazines, including the Daily Halchal.
He married twice and has left behind six bereaved family members.
Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has expressed deep grief and sorrow over the sad demise of Comrade Jam Saqi, a senior democratic leader who passed away in Hyderabad on Monday.
In a condolence message, the PPP Chairman saluted the valiant political struggle and sacrifices of Jam Saqi adding that he had been fighting for democracy and democratic rights for his whole life.
Saqi remained engaged in fighting for democracy and democratic rights for his whole life,’ Bilawal says
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari termed the death of Jam Saqi as a big loss to the democratic forces of the country, including the PPP.
He said that PPP family shares the grief of Jam Saqi family and prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage and fortitude to the members of bereaved family and his fans to bear this irreparable loss with equanimity.
PPP President Asif Ali Zardari has expressed his profound grief and sorrow over Saqi’s death. In a condolence message, he said that he was shocked and grieved by the news of the death of an upright and dedicated political activist Jam Saqi. He said that Saqi was a true pro-people politician who struggled all his life against dictatorships. He opposed One Unit during ’60s and sacrificed a lot during struggle against tyranny. He was imprisoned many times but refused to bow down before dictators.
Asif Ali Zardari said that the void created by Saqi’s death will not be filled for a long time. He will be always remembered by democrats and political workers all over the country. The former president condoled with Saqi’s family and friends and said that PPP was with them in this hour of grief.
Published in Daily Times, March 6th 2018.