JUNGSHAHI: Rasool Buksh Palejo, who breathed his last yesterday (Thursday 7th of June), was laid to rest today in his familial village Mungar Khan Palejo here.
Thousands of mourners, including female workers of Awami Tehreek, converged at the village and carried his coffin to the grave.
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A relevant piece published earlier: Founder of left-wing Awami Tehreek, Rasool Bukhsh Palejo passed away today here, at the age of 88, after a protracted illness. Palejo was born in Jung Shahi, Thatta and got initial edification at his hometown. Later he came to Karachi where he took admission at Sindh Madressatul Islam for his secondary education before graduating from Sindh Law College. Practicing as SC lawyer he distinguished himself as an advocate of human rights and was credited for facilitating women enter the mainstream politics of Sindh.
Palejo, who had spent over a decade behind bars, vehemently played his role in 1983 MRD and annihilation of One Unit. He wrote 26 books (including the acclaimed diary that he wrote while incarcerated in the Kot Lakpat Jail). Bilawal Bhutto said that he would be remembered for his struggle, sacrifices, and democracy: “His literary services will never be forgotten either. We are with his family in this time of grief,” BB said.
Executive Director of Pakistan Institute of Labor Education and Research (PILER) Karamat Ali, members of the board and staff of PILER have expressed their deep sorrow on the sad demise of Rasool Bukhsh Palejo, a noted leftist politician, senior lawyer, intellectual and head of the political party Awami Tehreek. In a statement to the bereaved family, Karamat Ali and other eulogized the services of late Palejo, who struggled his entire life for rights of poor, workers and peasants and spent a major portion of life in jails during Military regimes for the restoration of democracy. Palejo endured severe torture during the custody at notorious Kot Lakhpat jail in Punjab. He was also declared “Prisoner of Conscience” by the Amnesty International during the Military dictator General Zia’s regime.
Late Palejo was a champion of rights of peasants and formed Sindhi Hari Tahrik. He successfully mobilized and organized women workers and female peasants in Sindh. Women’s Party Sindhiani Tehrik played leading role in all political struggles. Late Palejo will be remembered for his supreme quality intellectual satire and he influenced a large number of students and brought them in mainstream politics. Sindhi Shagird Tahrik, a student’s movement played an important role during MRD. He was an author of many books. He fought cases of poor workers in courts free of cost and remained a key leader of various political alliances. (8th day of June 2018)
