Veteran politician Rasul Bux Palijo passed away early on Thursday morning at Karachi’s South City Hospital in Clifton. The 88-year old, who headed the Awami Tahreek Pakistan (ATP), was admitted in the hospital for a cardiac problem and pneumonia. According to a spokesperson for the Tahreek, the deceased’s body was taken back to his native village near Jungshahi, Thatta district, where his funeral prayers will be offered on Friday (today) at 8am. He added that Palijo would be laid to rest in his ancestral graveyard. The news of Palijo’s death spread like wildfire across Sindh and his well wishers, party workers and the general public took to the social media to express their grief. Many people uploaded his photo as their profile picture on the social media sites. Politicians, journalists and nationalists also expressed their deep grief and sorrow over Palijo’s death. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairmanBilawal Bhutto Zardari expressed sorrow over Palijo’s death in a condolence message. The PPP Chairman said that Palijo’s struggle for democracy and his contribution in Sindhi literature will always be remembered. Bilawal 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 followers to bear this irreparable loss with equanimity. PPP Senator Mian Raza Rabbani also expressed his grief and said that Sindh had lost an ideological politician. “Palijo was a great supporter of provincial autonomy and he dedicated his entire life to political struggle,” said Rabbani in his condolence message. Former Sindh CM Syed Murad Ali Shah said that after the death of comrade Jam Saqi, the demise of Rasool Bux Palijo was another loss to Sindh. “Palijo was a veteran politician who loved Sindh and humanity,” said Shah in his message. Senior journalist Sohail Sangi said that Palijo read a lot on philosophy, literature and politics. Sangi added that many people had ideological differences with Palijo but everyone honored him as an intellectual. Published in Daily Times, June 8th 2018.