KHAIRPUR, March 23: Renowned leftist leader and a senior lawyer of Sukkur, Ruknuddin Qasmi, died at the Civil Hospital in Sukkur on Thursday night. He was 86. He leaves behind four sons, eight daughters and grand-children.

Suffering from high fever, he was admitted to the hospital 10 days ago but could not survive.

His funeral prayers were held in Old Sukkur and he was laid to rest in Nau Pind graveyard on Friday.

A large number of political activists, lawyers and journalists from Khairpur, Sukkur, Rohri, Pano Aqil, Ghotki and other towns attended his last rites.

Born in Nau Pind near Ruk railway station in 1921, Mr Qasmi was the son of a prominent leader of Khilafat Movement.

He completed his graduation from Karachi University and obtained law degree from an institute of the city.

He joined politics in 1940s by taking part in the anti-colonial freedom struggle. However, he embraced communist ideology after the creation of Pakistan.

In 1973, he was elected vice-president of Sindh chapter of National Awami Party.

In 1975, he was detained under Defence of Pakistan Rules.

He led peasant and labour politics and Communist Party of Pakistan activities in Sukkur for several years.

He was elected president and general secretary of the District Bar Association, Sukkur.

Mr Qasmi remained active in the Movement for Restoration of Democracy against Gen Zia regime in 1980s and fought the cases of imprisoned activists in military courts free of charge.