KARACHI, Oct 1 Leaders representing different leftist parties, trade unions and intellectuals at a meeting held here on Friday paid tribute to Baloch Marxist leader Lal Bakhsh Rind, popularly known as Comrade Lala Rind, for his struggle for the rights of the suppressed classes from the platforms of the Progressive Movement of Pakistan and the Baloch National Movement.

The condolence meeting was organised by the Workers Party of Pakistan (WPP) and presided over by its vice-president, Yousuf Mustikhan.

Akhtar Husain of the WPP, Amin Khattak of the Awami National Party, Bizen Bizenjo and Dr Hayee Baloch of the National Party, trade union leaders Kaneez Fatima, Manzoor Razi, Mairaj Mohammad Khan and Manzoor Gichki, as well as Muslim Shamim, B.M. Kutty, Noor Mohammad Sheikh and Shahid Husain and several political activists spoke at the meeting.

Describing Lala Rind as a true Marxist and a man of commitment, they observed that the late leader had devoted his entire life to the cause of the downtrodden through his politics.

They said that Lala Rind was among the few leaders who converted the Baloch Students Organisation to a political movement.

The speakers said that although Lala Rind remained closely associated with the Baloch National Movement and indoctrinated the youth with progressive ideology, he played an active role as a leader of the National Awami Party, besides maintaining his affiliation with various trade unions and progressive literary organisations like the Awami Adabi Anjuman.