MULTAN: Veteran Seraiki nationalist Syed Hassan Raza Bokhari, popularly known as Razu Shah, died here on Monday.

He was admitted to the Nishtar Hospital after his motorcycle was hit by a car some 10 days back. He is survived by two sons, one daughter and a widow.

His funeral prayers were performed at Imambargah Syed Faiz Hussain Jaffari, attended by a large number of people, including his friends, party colleagues and political and social activists.

His political career spanned more than four decades and he remained part of several political parties, mostly left wing, before joining the Seraiki National Movement.

He actively worked in the Seraiki Lok Sanjh, Seraiki Soba Mahaaz, Seraikistan Qaumi Ittehad, Seraiki Lok Party and Pakistan Seraiki Party.

“Razu Shah was a person who preferred to be a low profile but he was recognised among the nationalist leadership of Sindh, Baluchistan and Seraiki,” said Mazhar Arif, a Seraiki nationalist.

He said that Razu Shah also remained in the Qaumi Mahaz-e-Azadi, a party of Miraj Muhammad Khan.

Chief Organiser of the Pakistan Seraiki Party Mansoor Karim Sial said that simple and soft spoken, Razu Shah was a diehard and committed Seraiki nationalist.

He said that he commanded great respect and influence among the Seraiki nationalists.

Serikistan Qaumi Council Chairman Zahoor Dhareja said that Razu Shah was one of the educated Seraiki nationalists and he was well aware of the current political affairs.

Published in Dawn, July 12th, 2016