LARKANA: Speakers paid homage to Pakistan Peoples Party leader Dr Ashraf Abbasi at a programme held to mark her fourth death anniversary in Waleed village the other day.

Begum Abbasi was the first woman deputy speaker of the National Assembly who held the office twice in 1973-77 and 1988-90. She was a close aide to PPP founder chairman Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and his daughter Benazir Bhutto and was the first girl in her village to go out of town for higher education, said the speakers, adding that Begum Abbasi died in her village on Aug 4, 2014, at the age of 91.

Naheed Khan, president of PPP-Workers and political secretary of slain PPP chairperson, said that Begum Abbasi had not only participated in politics and social work but also remained an advocate of women’s education and their empowerment to enable them compete men in the world, they said.

She was so committed to the PPP that during military regime, she had to travel secretly to lead protests and processions being organised by the party in different towns and districts.

She recalled that once party workers were protesting in Al-Murtaza House against Benazir Bhutto’s engagement with Asif Ali Zardari, she (Benazir Bhutto) asked Dr Abbasi to pacify them and tell them that it was her and her family’s decision. That was the level of trust in her by Benazir Bhutto, she said.

She was loved by all segments of society and she wanted to help everyone, Ms Naheed said, adding that everyone respected her as mother and more often people would call her ‘Amma’.

She excelled in medical education and began practice in Larkana. Choking on her words, Ms Naheed said, Dr Abbasi was a highly respected lady and her valuable suggestions in the party were always held in high esteem.

Haji Munawwar Ali Abbasi, former PPP MPA and head of Larkana Awami Ittehad, said that when majority of PPP leaders were avoiding contesting against chieftain of Chandio tribe Nawab Ahmed Sultan Chandio, she was the only person who presented herself to fight against him in his constituency. She contested and defeated the Chandios chieftain.

She joined Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s party after Mr Bhutto had dissociated himself from Gen Ayoub Khan and launched a political struggle for democratic rule in the country.

She was the first woman deputy speaker of National Assembly and remained in the forefront of the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy (MRD) in 1983, he said.

He said addressing Prof Muhammad Ali Pathan, author of nine books, that the family was ready to print English version of the biography of Dr Abbasi, which was originally published in Sindhi.

PPP-Workers chairman Dr Safdar Abbasi, MPA-elect Moazzam Abbasi, Prof Mohammad Ali Pathan, Prof Sikandar Abbasi, Noor Ahmed Jatoi, Roshan Ali Kalhoro and Aamir Abbasi said that Begum Abbasi was an icon of struggle who stood unshaken in all ups and downs.

She was a courageous lady who embarked on long journey for completing her medical education even after marriage and against the taboos of society, they said.

Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2018