Nazeer Abbasi

Nazeer Abbasi
Born(1953-04-10)April 10, 1953
Tando Allahyar, Sindh, Pakistan
DiedAugust 9, 1980(1980-08-09) (aged 28) (Tortured)
Resting placeKarachi

Muhammad Nazeer Abbasi (Sindhi: محمد نذير عباسي‎) (b. April 10, 1953 — d. August 9, 1980) was the youngest member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Pakistan.[1] He was tortured to death on August 9, 1980[2][3] in government of Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq while in the custody of FIU Field Intelligence Unit of Pakistan Army. His family has accused former ISI operative Brigadier Imtiaz Ahmed Billa of torturing and killing Abbasi while in his custody, and Billa has admitted this in a TV interview.[4][5]

Early life

Abbasi was born to Jan Muhammad Abbasi and Qamar-ul-Nisa in Tando Allahyar, Sindh, Pakistan on April 10, 1953. After completing his intermediate education, he Started working at Municipal Committee Tando Allahyar and Organized a Union of Municipal Workers.[6] He went on to study at the Sindh University where he got B.Sc. in Political science. He married Hameeda Ghanghro on 4 February 1978 and had a daughter, Zarqa Abbasi.[7]

Political career

He started politics during student life.[7] He was first arrested as a member of Azad Marorra Students Federation in 1969, which was demanding the publication of the electoral voter lists in Sindhi language. In prison he met communists and leaders of National Students Federation. In jail he was influenced by fellow political prisoners belonging to Sindh National Students Federation, an organization which he joined, and later became leader of. Abbasi was arrested again in May 1978 by military during the dictatorship of Zia-ul-Haq charged with publication of clandestine monthly Halchal and was sent to notorious prison Quli Camp Quetta.[2][7] During that period many of the members of Sindh National Students Federation and Sindh Hari Committee were arrested from all over Sindh. He was arrested again by the FIU Field Intelligence Unit of Pakistan Army's Brigadier Billa from Karachi on July 30, 1980, along with Professor Jamal Naqvi, Amarlal, Kamal Warsi and Shabbir Shar, who were later joined by Sohail Sangi, Badar Abro and others.[7] Abbasi was arrested on 30 July 1980 with other party workers. He was killed while the rest of the group were tried in a military court in what came to be known as the Jam Saqi case.

Death

Nazeer Abbasi was tortured to death on August 9, 1980.

References

  1. ^ Tribune.com.pk (2017-08-14). "Communist party leader Nazeer Abbasi's 37th death anniversary marked". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2019-06-13.
  2. ^ a b "Nazir Abbasi in Kuli Camp". Daily Times. 2017-08-12. Retrieved 2019-06-13.
  3. ^ Hasan, Shazia (2017-08-09). "'Whatever happened to Nazeer Abbasi is still happening to many others'". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2019-06-13.
  4. ^ Custodial death of Nazeer Abbasi Archived 2009-09-02 at the Wayback Machine, The News (Pakistan), 31 August 2009
  5. ^ Brig Imtiaz’s arrest demanded for communist leader’s murder, Daily Times (Pakistan), 31 August 2009
  6. ^ "In memoriam: Nazir Abbasi". DAWN.COM. 2010-08-09. Retrieved 2019-06-13.
  7. ^ a b c d Sangi, Sohail (2010-08-09). "An intrepid leader". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2019-06-13.