Exiled Student leader wants to Return Home

Karachi: Jeay Sindh Students Federation (JSSF) student leader Qadir Bux Jatoi, who was forced into exile 28 years ago during Ziaul Haq's tenure, has contacted the Sindh High Court (SHC) and alleged in his application that the exile and military court were illegal, so he should be allowed to return to his homeland.

As a result, the SHC bench, comprising Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Bin Yamin Khan, issued notices to the federal home secretary, provincial home secretary, Hyderabad jail superintendent and the military court on Wednesday. Jatoi, who has been in Sweden for the past 28 years, has filed a petition through Barrister Zameer Ghumro. He has alleged that he and Ali Haider Shah were wrongly accused of hijacking a Pakistan International Airlines flight in 1981 and then forcibly sent to Damascus. The applicant further said that he and Shah were also blamed for the student riots at Sindh University, Mehran University and Liaquat Medical College, Jamshoro. The riots ensued after soldiers misbehaved with Shireen Soomro, a student of the Peoples Medical College, Nawabshah. During the protests, an army vehicle was attacked, leaving one soldier dead and two injured.

The applicant also claimed that he and Shah were arrested in 1978, within two months of the riots, and the military court sentenced Shah to 25 years in prison, while Jatoi received 14 years.

In his petition, Jatoi said that the PIA airplane was hijacked during their time in prison and as per the demands of the hijackers, he and Shah were sent to Damascus. It is important to mention that many student leaders during those protests have gone on to secure important positions in the government, media and judiciary. Prominent amongst them are present Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfikar Mirza, Khadim Lakhair, Abdullah Arain, Khan Muhammad Laghari, Ghulam Nabi Khushk, Nazar Muhammad Junejo, Abu Bakar Zardari, Mataro Daheri, Shabir Lakho, Ghazi Salahuddin, Sarfaraz Memon, Inayatullah Hisbani and certain others. Daily Times