HYDERABAD, April 7: A pall of gloom hung over Sindh as the news about the sad and untimely death of Basheer Khan Qureshi, firebrand nationalist leader and Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz chairman, spread like a prairie fire early Saturday morning.

As the news was aired by TV channels, the shopkeepers in the cities and towns of Sindh voluntarily closed their shops. The news came as a bolt from the blue even for the unconcerned people.

Many of political activists, some of them not affiliated with the JSQM, broke down and started crying like a child. Condolence messages kept pouring in at the offices of newspapers In Hyderabad city, all the business houses and markets — even in the City and Latifabad talukas — remained closed. The Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Hyderabad, postponed its paper of the Secondary School Certificate annual examination scheduled for Saturday. The universities at Jamshoro also remained closed.

Vice-Chancellor of the Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, where Basheer Qureshi had studied, said that his death had caused a great loss to Sindh.

In a statement, the VC said that Basheer Qureshi, introduced student politics with high morals and as a true friend of education, he raised the bold slogan of “boycott of (class) boycott culture”.

He said that the teachers, students and employees of the university were mourning the death of a brilliant student of the institution and the true son of the soil who had left indelible imprints on the history of Sindh.

The Sindh University Teachers Association and the Sindh chapter of the Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Associations have also expressed sorrow over the death of Basheer Qureshi.

Sindh Hari Porhiyat Council president Punhal Sario in his condolence message said that Basheer Qureshi was the true political heir of G.M. Syed and added that the vacuum created by his death in the nationalist politics would never be filled.

In Khairpur city and other towns of the district, trade activities remained suspended and shops, bazaars and markets closed.

When the body of Basheer Qureshi reached Ranipur, JSQM activists and supporters broke into tears while having last glimpses of their beloved leader, wrapped in JSQM flag The body was taken in a caravan to Larkana via Khairpur-Larkana bridge. Many caravans of the JSQM activists and supporters from Sobhodero, Thari Mirwah, Gambat and other towns and villages of the district left for Ratodero, the native town of Basheer Qureshi.

Even women at their homes mourned his death.

In Thatta, people were shocked by the news of the death of Basheer Qureshi. Traders shuttered down the shopping centres, bazaars, markets, petrol pumps and rice factories throughout the district.

JSQM activists wearing black armbands took to the streets in a sombre way and then left for Ratodero in convoys.

Umerkot city and other towns of the district also remained shut. Vehicular traffic remained thin. Similar was the scene in Mithi where activists of different nationalist parties, wearing black armbands, gathered at Kashmir Chowk to express their grief.

In Naushahro Feroze district, shops remained closed in Moro, Mithiani, Tharushah, Padidan, Darya Khan Mari, Bhirya Road and other towns. The lawyers boycotted court proceedings in Naushahro Feroze, Moro, Kandiaro and Bhirya City.

Different towns of Dadu and Jamshoro districts remained closed. A large number of JSQM activists left for Ratodero to attend the funeral prayers.

JSQM activists set up a condolence camp in Dadu.

Khipro, Shahpur Chakar, Jhol and Jam Nawaz Ali remained closed in Sanghar district.

In Larkana and Shahdadkot, the death of Basheer Qureshi led to volunteer shutdown. In Shahdadkot activists of different nationalist and other political parties assembled at the Koto-Moto Chowk and received condolence from common men.

Qambar wore a deserted look as the traders closed their shops and transport remained thin. The schools also remained closed.

In Dokri JSQM workers took to the streets and burnt tyres when they heard rumours that Basheer Qureshi had been poisoned to death. Larkana remained completely shut.

Ghotki, Pano Akil, Mirpur Mathelo, Ubauro, Jacobabad, Thull, Kandhkot, Kashmore, Tangwani and other towns of upper Sindh also remained shut.