ISLAMABAD: Head of National Party (NP) Senator Mir Hasil Bizenjo on Wednesday said late Fanoos Gujjar was a true leader of the working class.

He was speaking at a memorial reference organised by the National Party’s Islamabad chapter.

Central chairman of Awami Workers Party (AWP) Fanoos Gujjar passed away on Dec 1 at the age of 60.

He was laid to rest at his ancestral graveyard in Riyal village of Chaghorzai in Buner district.

Hasil Bizenjo said Fanoos Gujjar’s life was a lesson for all leaders who were working for the betterment of the working class.

He said Fanoos was a true leader of marginalised segment of the society.

He spent his life with Gujjar Biradari of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and became a standard bearer of their cause.

“Although Fanoos was never elected as MNA, he gave his life to build a society devoid of hatred, exploitation and prejudices,” he said.

Senator Bizenjo said the opposition parties had decided to give time to the government to deliver.

“If the government fails to control price hike it will become impossible for the poor people to survive. I suggest the government should announce a package for the poor as promised by PTI before the elections,” he said.

The NP leader said his party believed in democracy and wanted to strengthen it.

“It is unfortunate that 2pc of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is being spent on education, 0.6pc on health and 18pc on defence. In Pakistan 70pc people, suffering from heart and liver diseases and cancer die without getting treatment. As many as 40pc people don’t get food twice a day and 60pc people cannot buy new dresses,” he said.

Hasil Bizenjo said Fanoos Gujjar always struggled for the deprived class.

Senator Tahir Bizenjo said he met the deceased leader many a time and was impressed by his work.

He said Fanoos Gujjar was a true representative of the left politics and used to participated in elections from his area.

It was easy for him to become a parliamentarian but he did not compromise on his principles, he said.

Senator Mohammad Kabir Shahi said Mr Gujjar was a brave man.

“One of his kidneys was damaged in jail while the second one was transplanted. Despite being a heart patient he would work 24 hours and did politics for the oppressed people,” he said.

President of National Party Punjab chapter Ayub Malik said the best way to pay tribute to Fanoos Gujjar was to work on his ideas of social justice and building of a welfare state.

He said thousands of people and party workers from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Balochistan and Sindh participated in the funeral of late Fanoos Gujjar. It was nothing but a proof of his popularity.

Another speaker, Azhar Mahmood, said that during his student life, Fanoos Gujjar was associated with progressive politics and became the president of National Students Federation.

Published in Dawn, December 6th, 2018