Allegations fly as doctors stay mum on autopsy results

By Sarfaraz Memon
Published: April 8, 2012

The leader of the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) often stirred up crowds with his speeches invoking independence for Sindh. PHOTO: EXPRESS
SUKKUR:

The leader of the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) often stirred up crowds with his speeches invoking independence for Sindh, and in his death, he has riled up his family and party leaders.

While the cause of Qureshi’s death had not been determined by the time of his burial, the events leading up to it have had the party crying foul.

Qureshi, 53, had left his hometown Ratodero on Friday for an event in Khairpur Mirs. He stopped in Sakrand and had dinner with JSQM leaders. After dinner, Qureshi complained of chest pains and was taken to a local hospital by his driver and nephew. Attempts to save his life were not successful and party leaders could not fathom that this was a heart attack.

Qureshi’s body was moved to the Chandka Hospital in Larkana. A panel of doctors, comprising police surgeon Dr Safiullah Abbasi, assistant police surgeon Dr Abdul Qayoom Rajper, forensic expert and assistant professor Dr Kamal Kumar and medico legal officer Dr Raheem Bux, conducted the post-mortem. While the report is expected to be released within a week, JSQM leaders and Qureshi’s family members have demanded that the formalities be conducted by international experts, as they allege that Qureshi was poisoned slowly. Doctors were reluctant to share details of the autopsy because of the high-profile nature of the case, while samples were sent from Rohri to Karachi for further testing.

Party workers were divided over his burial and whether it should take place in Karachi, near the grave of GM Syed in Sann or in the family graveyard of Ratodero. Arrangements for the Ratodero burial had been made when Qureshi’s wife revealed that he had wished to be buried in an open space. A local landlord then offered two acres for his grave.

Sindh closes up shop

The death led to a shutdown of business, legal and educational activities throughout Sindh, including in Jacobabad, Kashmore, Kandhkot, Shikarpur, Ghotki, Mirpur Mathelo, and Daharki. Several young JSQM supporters attempted self-immolation in Jamshoro, Kotri and Qasimabad after hearing of Qureshi’s demise.

The Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Larkana cancelled the scheduled English-I exam in Larkana, Shikarpur, Kashmore, Jacobabad and Qamber Shahdadkot. Sindhi and Urdu exams were also cancelled by the Sukkur board.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 8th, 2012.

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Demise of Bashir Khan Qureshi


JSQM announces three-day mourning across Sindh

By Asghar Azad

KARACHI: Secretary General Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) Asif Baladi on Saturday said the Supreme Council (Geamist Council) of JSQM had decided to observe three-day mourning over the demise of Bashir Khan Qureshi across Sindh.
On the other hand, all other Sindh-based nationalist parties, including Sindh United Party (SUP), Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party (STP), Awami Tahreek (AT) and others also announced to observe the mourning.
Talking to Daily Times, Baladi said that their leader’s death seemed unnatural because he had never suffered cardiac problem or blood pressure in the past.
He said, “I had been working with him for a long time but he never mentioned anything about stress or heart problem. Some elements could not swallow the success of JSQM’s ‘Freedom March’ held on March 23, and started hatching conspiracies against the JSQM and its leadership.”

Replying to a query, he said the decision to bury Qureshi’s body at Ratodero had unanimously been taken by party and the family members of the late JSQM chairman. He added, “JSQM’s struggle for achieving freedom had drawn international attention through freedom march towards the Sindh cause.
“We will fight at all forums if any mistake appeared in the postmortem report and we demand sending the report to the international laboratories, which are impartial and well recognised”, Baladi said.
Chairman SUP Syed Jalal Mehmood Shah told Daily Times that Qureshi was a daring and committed leader of Sindh and its people, however, the epicenter of his struggle was Sindh. Shah added, “I don’t think that there was any conspiracy behind Qureshi’s death, yet the postpartum report will clear all doubts.”
Central leader Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) Mir Muhammad Khokhar said, “Qureshi was a prominent personality of Sindh after the death of GM Syed in the Sindh’s nationalist politics that got the same love and respect from the people of Sindh, including his rivals”.
Khokhar further said, “Few politicians in Sindh’s politics during their lives paid love and respect to their workers and leaders equally like Qureshi.”
President Awami Tahreek (AT) Ayaz Latif Paleejo said that Qureshi was the most active and daring personality who never compromised on his principles, adding he was a man who was well aware of the people’s nature to make them join the political movement, Paleejo added.