Ayaz Latif Palijo

Ayaz Latif Palijo (Sindhi,Urdu: اياز لطیف پلیجو‎) (born 15 November 1968, Thatta, Sindh, Pakistan) is a politician, lawyer, activist, writer and teacher. Palijo is the president of Qomi Awami Tahreek (Peoples National Movement), central convener and founder of the Sindh Progressive Nationalist Alliance (SPNA), one of the founders and central Secretary General of Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA). Since 2007, he has represented the left, objecting to the division of the southeastern Pakistan province of Sindh.

Ayaz Latif Palijo
Ayaz Latif Palijo Advocate Central ex-President Awami Tahreek founder of Qomi Awami Tahreek
Personal details
Born (1968-11-15) 15 November 1968
Thatta, Pakistan
Nationality Pakistani
Political partyQaumi Awami Tehreek
Spouse(s)Sanam Palijo (wife)
RelationsSassui Palijo (cousin)
ParentsRasul Bux Palejo (father)
Jeejee Zarina Palijo (mother)
ResidenceHyderabad, Sindh, Sindh, Pakistan
Alma materMehran University
(Bachelor of Engineering)
Occupationlawyer

Early life and education

Palijo's mother Jeejee Zarina Baloch was a Baloch women's rights activist, founder of Sindhiani Tahreek, writer, artist and teacher. His father Rasool Bux Palijo, was a Sindhi leftist, scholar, writer and founder of Awami Tahreek.[1]

Ayaz Latif Palijo was educated at the Model School, Old-campus, Sindh University, Hyderabad. In his teenage years, under his mother's guidance, Palijo studied Sindhi, Balochi and Urdu. He later became conversant in English, Seraiki, Punjabi and Persian.

At age eleven, Palijo was the central secretary-general of the Gulan Jahra Barira and the Sujag Bar Tahreek, the children's wing of the Qomi Awami Tahreek. He was then a university student activist.

Palijo received a degree in civil engineering from Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro, and a degree in law from Sindh University, he secured first position in LLM from Sindh UniversityJamshoro. He received a degree in environment and development of LEAD from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Palijo also received a postgraduate degree in rural development from Sindh University and Wye College, United Kingdom.

Palijo received a LEAD (leadership for environment and development) training in the seventh cohort.[1]

Career in law

Palijo is a constitutional lawyer in the Sindh High Court and a leading defender of Minority, Women, and Children's rights. He led the movement that culminated in the restoration of the Chief Justice, Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.

Political activism

Palijo is the president of Qomi Awami Tahreek (QAT) of Pakistan (Peoples National Movement of Pakistan) he was central convener and founder of the Sindh Progressive Nationalist Alliance (SPANA) and is founder and central Secretary General of Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA).[2][3] He said,

"Today Sindh is passing famine like situation. Conspiracies are being made for disintegration of Sindh and Pakistan. People are committing suicide and selling their children due man-made price hike, water-shortage, crimes, and corruption. We'll die but we won't let Sindh be divided, How long the rulers embroil the people of Sindh in concocted stories? People are full of hatred against corruption, bad governance, and discrimination. Hugely participation of public and political groups irrespective of socio-political and religious affiliations proved that Sindh is united and can not be divided."

Personal life

He became well-versed in literature by reading Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, Shaikh Ayaz, Boris Pasternak, Charles Dickens, Mao Zedong, Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Milan Kundera, Thomas Hardy, Vladimir Lenin, Mohandas Gandhi and Muhammad Ali Jinnah. He is author of several books on politics, law and human rights, a popular motivational speaker, an outstanding orator on Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, Shaikh Ayaz and Faiz Ahmad Faiz and an outspoken critic of fundamentalism, feudalism, forced conversions and corrupt elites.

He is married to Sanam Ayaz, a teacher, and medical doctor. The union yielded three sons Sahir Ayaz, Sarbaz Ayaz, Josh Ayaz, and a daughter Zaarinay Ayaz.

Kalabagh Dam

His party manifesto is based on objectives of Social justice, peace, equality, and provincial autonomy in prospering Sindh and progressive Pakistan. Palijo is strongly against the forced conversion, corruption, terrorism and construction of Kalabagh Dam.[4]

Karachi Muhabat-e-Sindh (Love of Sindh) rally and Train March

In May 2012, Qomi Awami Tehrik (QAT) Party members and workers organised a Muhabat-e-Sindh (Love of Sindh) rally in Karachi against the formation of the foreign-sponsored Mohajir province. In the continuity of several Mohabbat-e-Sindh Rallies in all the districts of Sindh including Karachi, Ayaz Latif Palijo led a 03 days Mohabbat-e-Sindh Train March, which started from Karachi with the message of harmony and love for all the people of Pakistan, the march received a warm welcome at every railway station and ended with a mammoth sit-in in front of parliament house Islamabad.[5]

Muhabat-e-Sindh rally attacked by terrorists

In 2012, women were able to attend Muhabat-e-Sindh (Love of Sindh) rally in equal numbers to men.[5] The marchers were attacked near Nawa Lane, Pan Mandi and Juna Market. Eleven people were killed and about thirty were injured. Palijo announced to the press a peaceful strike in Sindh to highlight the incident and said his party would stage a sit-in protest till the attackers were apprehended. Ayaz Latif Palijo declared that all the permanent residents of Sindh including Urdu-speaking Sindhis are our brothers and that they should unite for the betterment of Sindh and for unity, development and peace in Pakistan.[5]

Lyari rally

On Saturday, 14 July 2012, two months after the Muhabat-e-Sindh Rally, Palijo announced that a Shaheedan-e-Muhabbat-e-Sindh Jalsa would take place on Sunday, 15 July at Gabol Park, Lyari. In his speech, Palijo said, "Nobody can stop us from entering Lyari and other parts of Karachi." Palijo criticised the Sindh Government, saying that 4000 policemen were deployed by the Sindh government to stop his rally.[6] After the announcement, the Sindh home minister ordered Palijo's arrest and Palijo received threats of attacks.[7][7][8][9]

2013 Pakistan general election

On 11 May 2013, a general election took place. Palijo was a candidate for PS-47 Qasimabad, Hyderabad constituency. Palijo lost the contest with 14,901 votes.[10] Palijo challenged the result in the Sindh High Court and asked for a re-election. He claimed his agents at the polling booths had been harassed.[11]

Disagreement with M. Q. M.

On 4 January 2014, Altaf Hussain the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (M.Q.M.) called for a separate province. Palijo disagreed and threatened strikes and protests.[12] Two days later the M.Q.M sent a delegation under Wasim Akhtar and Kunwar Naveed to discuss the matter with Ayaz Latif Palijo and explained to him that they don't want the division of Sindh or a separate province, they just want powers for local government in Karachi. Palijo called off the strikes and protests.[13]

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References
  1. Affiliation, Party, Forums, Organization. "Palijo affiliation with organizations". Pakistan Herald. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  2. "Ayaz Palijo briefly detained in Hyderabad | Pakistan Today | Latest news | Breaking news | Pakistan News | World news | Business | Sport and Multimedia". Pakistan Today. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
  3. "Election campaigns of nationalist parties safe and sound". Thenews.com.pk. Archived from the original on 26 May 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
  4. "Kalabagh Dam is a death warrant for Sindh". tribune.com.pk. Express Tribune. 17 September 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  5. Rally, Ayaz Palijo. "Palijo under attack". Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  6. Policemen, 4000. "Section-144". Awaz Today. Archived from the original on 12 August 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2013.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. Palijo, Ayaz. "July 2012 rally – Arrest Warrant". Karachi: Samaa Tv. Archived from the original on 6 November 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  8. 2012, Rally Against Sooba (province). "May 2012 Rally". Express Tribune. Retrieved 6 November 2013.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. Reaction, Palijo. "Palijo Address". Dawn. Archived from the original on 31 March 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  10. general election, 11 May Pakistan. "Ayaz Palijo contestant for 2013 general election". Election Commission of Pakistan. Archived from the original on 14 August 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  11. Challenged, Election Result. "Palijo pleads for re-election in his constituency". Express Tribune. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  12. Palijo, Ayaz (4 January 2014). "Altaf Hussain's speech condemned by Pakistani civilians, politicians, lawyers, intelliactuals". The Nation. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  13. House, Ayaz Palijo (6 January 2014). "MQM heads to Palijo house". Geo. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
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