LAHORE: Awami Workers Party (AWP) senior leader Naeem Shakir Advocate died of cardiac arrest over the weekend in the US. He was 73.

According to an announcement made by the party on Sunday, Mr Shakir was suffering from prostate cancer and cardiac problem. He had undergone a surgery for prostate cancer last year and had to visit the US for treatment. He will be buried in the USA on Thursday.

Mr Shakir has left behind his wife, a son, a daughter and a large number of comrades and friends to mourn his death.

He was the founding member of the AWP and remained member of its federal committee. He was also deputy general secretary of the Workers Party Pakistan that was formed after the merger of Communist League, Socialist Party.

His political struggle spans over half a century. He joined the progressive politics and took part in working class movement since his student life and remained committed to the cause of working class and ideals till his death.

He started his political life from National Awami Party in 60s. He was the founding member of Socialist Party of Pakistan founded on March 23, 1971 with late Mr C R Aslam and Mr Abid Hassan Minto.

He was associated with the Pakistan Trade Union Federation. As a Supreme Court lawyer, he fought for the rights of minorities and workers. He defended the hapless members of the religious minorities in blasphemy cases such as the Aasia Bibi case.

He remained at the forefront during democratic struggle. He was also the editor of the oldest socialist monthly magazine Awami Jamhuriat , a task he performed with due diligence which is being published for the last 49 years.In his condolence message, AWP founding President Abid Hassan Minto said Mr Shakir was a conscientious and committed progressive politician.

“Naeem stood firm against all odds and pressures from the orthodox religious clergy and influential ruling class, and struggled for the rights of the poor and marginalised people on legal and political fronts,” Minto said.

Mr Shakir had dedicated his life for the working class politics and contributed immensely towards the efforts in uniting the scattered Left and progressive parties since 1996. He struggled for establishing an egalitarian peaceful society, social justice and fundamental rights of all irrespective of faith, ethnicity, and culture, he said.

His commitment to the party and his ideals could be gauged from the fact that despite his illness he would remain concerned about the party rather than his health. A few days ago he called from the US and inquired about the party issues and overall political situation in the country, Minto said.

AWP President Fanoos Gujjar also termed Mr Shakir’s death a great loss. In his death the party had lost a great fighter and revolutionary, he said. He urged the party workers and leaders to emulate his struggle. The best way to pay tribute to him would be to continue his mission and speed up the struggle against the imperialism, the establishment and ruling elite, the president said.

AWP General Secretary Akhtar Hussain said Mr Shakir’s death had created a void that would be hard to fill.

AWP spokesperson Farooq Tariq said Mr Shakir was a determined fighter for the rights of the working class politics.

Published in Dawn, October 9th, 2017