KARACHI, Dec 2: Speakers at a seminar held to commemorate the 100th birth anniversary of Qazi Faiz Mohammad paid tribute to his services to the downtrodden, particularly peasants, of Sindh, and said that the late leader had dedicated his entire life for the uplift of haris and the labour class.

They recalled Qazi’s pivotal role in the Hari Movement spearheaded by Haider Bakhsh Jatoi from the forum of the Sindh Hari Committee to highlight the plight of peasants and achieve their due status in society.

Organised by the Qazi Faiz Mohammad Foundation on Monday, the seminar was chaired by Sindh University Vice-Chancellor Mazharul Haq Siddiqui and addressed, among others, by Mehtab Rashdi, Rasul Bakhsh Palijo and Comrade Rochi Ram.

Mehtab Rashdi described the late Qazi as a multifaceted figure who was a committed politician, active human rights activist and great hari leader, besides a good writer, musician and linguistic expert. He never compromised on his principles, she said, adding that he believed in co-existence of followers of all religions and advocated the philosophy of egalitarianism and humanism.

She also lauded his role in the struggle for democracy and against the one-unit.

Rasul Bakhsh Palijo said the late Qazi always struggled for the rights of the downtrodden and would always be remembered for the sacrifices he had rendered for attaining the due rights of the Sindhi people.

He acknowledged that the hari leader suffered a lot during his struggle for the poor population of Sindh but never bowed to dictators.

Apa Irshad Faiz Qazi, Prof Ejaz Qureshi, Prof Inam Sheikh, Ghulam Nabi Morai, Ali Aslam Jafery and Comrade Ghulam Rasul, Fakhuruddin G. Ibrahim, Syed Zafar Ali Shah, Prof Jamal Naqi, Rochi Ram, Mujib Pirzada also paid tribute to the late leader’s services, and said the Sindhi people needed a visionary leader like him to lead them in this critical period where the poor majority of the province was fighting for their survival.

Qazi Javed, son of the late leader, presented some relics of his father to the SU vice-chancellor, who announced that a chair would be established at the varsity for Qazi Faiz Mohammad.

On the occasion, the late Qazi’s book “2222” and two other publications were launched.

Husna Faiz, Qazi’s daughter, recited his popular poetry.