THATTA: Speakers at a general workers’ convention of Awami Tehreek (AT) to mark Chehlum of its founder leader, Rasool Bakhsh Palijo, at his grave in the native Manghar Khan Palijo village near here paid homage to the veteran politician for his unconditional love and sacrifices for the motherland and unparalleled political acumen.

PPP Senator Sassui Palijo, niece of the late Palijo, said that unlike other politicians Palijo Sahib would prefer to educate his workers by convening regular sessions on politics and infusing confidence and trust in the rank and file of the party so that they were better armed to persuade masses to fight for their legitimate rights.

She said that he had great rapport with not only young and old men of his party but also women whom he had convinced to get out of their homes and stand shoulder to shoulder with men to achieve legitimate rights of Sindh.

Palijo Sahib was not only a nationalist, but also an internationalist who struggled for democracy and fought against feudalism, she said.

Sindh Taraqqi-pasand Party chairman Dr Qadir Magsi said that Palijo Sahib made Sindhiyani Tehreek successful by bringing women of his own family and his fellow clansmen into the streets. Their political directions might be different but their agendas for Sindh and Sindhis were similar, he said.

Former PPP MPA Ghulam Qadir Palijo said that his elder brother, Palijo Sahib, was an asset for all Sindhis. He used to say that Sindh would become prosperous only after it got rid of feudalism and other evil forces, he said.

Abdul Qadir Ranto, information secretary of Awami Tehreek, well known scholar Dr Mohammad Ali Manjhi, Gul Hasan Kalmati, renowned classical dancer Sheema Kirmani, Mahnaz Rehman, Anwer Rind, writer and intellectual Yousuf Shaheen and daughter of slain peasant leader Fazil Rahu, Shahnaz Rahu also paid tribute to the veteran politician at the gathering, which passed a number of resolutions.

A resolution declared that Gorano dam was a counterproductive project and demanded it be rolled back. Locals be given employment in coal extraction projects in Thar and technical education and language courses in Chinese and English be imparted to local youth so that they could get the jobs on the basis of merit at the projects, said a resolution.

Another resolution expressed concern over extremist outfits organising regular sit-ins in the name of religion and inciting extremism and terrorism in the country. It condemned recent incidents of terrorism in Peshawer and Mastung and killing of Haroon Bilour and Siraj Raisani in suicide attacks.

A resolution condemned derogatory remarks by Zulifkar Mirza against slain peasant leader Fazil Rahu. Through a joint resolution, the participants in the convention including lawyers, doctors, intellectuals, writers and people from almost all walks of life pledged to carry on political legacy of late Palijo.

Towards the conclusion of the programme, Sheema Kirmani performed to the tune of party anthem and songs and a smartly turned-out contingent of the Sindhiyani Tehreek activists presented salute to the late Palijo.

Published in Dawn, July 16th, 2018