ISLAMABAD, June 5: Mr Hamid Hashmi, a devoted left-wing activist and general-secretary of Pakistan Mazdoor Kissan Party (PMKP), died of heart attack on Sunday morning. Mr Hashmi, 70, suffered the heart attack at his home and died at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences when he had another stroke there, his family said.

He was buried in the afternoon at the Islamabad Graveyard, where his body was brought draped in the party’s red flag, which was later spread over his body in the grave as well. He is survived by his wife and an adopted son, Sarosh Hashmi.

A large number of intellectuals, social and political activists and trade unionists attended the funeral.

Mr Chen Lekang, in-charge of the cultural section of the Chinese embassy, PMKP president Afzal Khamosh and other party leaders also attended the funeral ceremony.

Born at Chak Hashmian in Sialkot on May 13, 1935, Mr Hashmi, had done his masters in English and Urdu literature and political science, besides being a law graduate.

He worked as a journalist and teacher in China from 1971 to 1975. He also worked for Beijing Radio’s Urdu service and taught Urdu at Beijing University.

He served as public relations director at Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad, from 1976 to 1996.