HYDERABAD, Dec 29: Rich tributes were paid to Jeejee Zarina Baloch for her services in the cause of Sindh, folk music, art and literature at her 71st birth anniversary held at Mumtaz Mirza auditorium, Sindh Museum, on Friday.

The function was organised by the Sindh Research Council, Jeejee Zarina Baloch and Academy and Forum for Rights, Justice and Peace.

Leading writers, intellectuals and political leaders eulogised the services of late Zarina Baloch.

A book “Jeejee” complied by Naseer Mirza was also launched on the occasion.

The book is spread over 685 pages and contains articles and writ-ups and impressions by Benazir Bhutto, Ibrahim Joyo, Rasool Bux Palijo, Mehtab Mehboob, Rasheed Bhatti, Fehmeeda Hussain, Tariq Alam Abro, Makhdoom Jamiluzzaman, Tanveer Junejo and Reeta Shahani.

Speakers said that she was not only a renowned artist and folk singer but also a teacher and playwright.

They said that throughout her life, she had tried to create political awakening among the Sindhi nation through her melodious songs.

They said that she had sung the poetry of Shah Latif, Sachal Sarmast, Qalandar Lal Shahbaz and Shaikh Ayaz.

They said that she had introduced Sindh and Pakistan through her songs in America, England, Dubai, India, Canada and Germany.

They said that she was the only singer who had defied Zia’s martial law by singing revolutionary songs of Shaikh Ayaz which had infused new blood into the veins of Sindhi nation.

Awami Tehrik chief Rasool Bux Palijo said late Zarina Baloch was a role model for Sindh and would remain a role model for thousands of years.