KARACHI, May 18: Waja Yusuf Naskandi, one of the senior Baloch Marxist leaders in Karachi, died here on Wednesday night after a protracted illness. He was 78.

He has left behind a widow, two sons and two daughters to mourn his death.

His funeral was attended by prominent Baloch leaders and activists, besides the nazim, niab nazim and councillors of Lyari Town. He was buried in Mewashah graveyard on Thursday afternoon.

Naskandi, known for his Marxist and nationalist leanings, had played an active role in Baloch nationalist politics since ’60s and had been maintaining close association with National Awami Party leaders.

He joined the Baloch resistance movement in ’60s and was jailed in 1965 along with his four associates on the charge of having indulged in anti-state activities.

Earlier, in 1963, he had briefly been detained by authorities for disturbing a government-sponsored public meeting held in Gabol Park, Lyari.

Naskandi was picked up by secret agencies during the 1970 military operation in Balochistan.

Despite his fragile health, he remained active in politics till his death and organized Baloch youths in Karachi under the banner of the Baloch Rights Council to oppose the military operation in Balochistan.