ISLAMABAD: National Party (NP) Punjab paid tributes to late politician Mukhtar Bacha in a memorial reference.

The reference was attended by NP secretary general Senator Jan Mohammad Buledi, MNA Phulain Baloch, former senator Farhatullah Babar, NP Punjab president Ayub Malik, former PFUJ secretary general Nasir Zaidi, AWP leader Ismat Shahjahan and others.

Senator Buledi said he always found Mr Bacha very clear in his political vision, and recalled “Mukhtar Bacha joined the NP in 2011 and wanted to unite all progressive forces but unfortunately despite all his efforts he could not achieve his goal.”

Recalling his interaction with late Mukhtar Bacha, Farhatullah Babar said the veteran leader never compromised on principles.

“He believed in a leftist ideology and never compromised on his political principles; he fought for human rights and democracy besides waging a relentless struggle for the rights of oppressed and marginalised sections of the society,” Mr Babar said.

Throwing light on the political struggle of Mukhtar Bacha, NP Punjab president Ayub Malik said that the veteran leftist leader started his politics by joining the Communist Party of Pakistan, his thinking was not rigid and he supported all those who wanted to work for a just society.

“He wanted progressive forces to create space for themselves in Pakistani politics and outreach ordinary people, it was perhaps because of this that he joined the NP and tried to organise it in KP besides mentoring workers of the party,”Ayub Malik noted.

Bacha firmly believes that no change could be possible without taking an active part in politics. Therefore, he remained active politically until his last day and his death is not only a loss of the National Party but that of all progressive parties of the country as well.

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2024