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Yousuf Mustikhan

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Yousuf Mustikhan
یوسف مستی خان
President of Awami Workers Party
In office
1 December 2018 – 29 September 2022
Preceded byFanoos Gujjar
Succeeded byAkhtar Hussain[1]
Personal details
Born
Yousuf Mustikhan

(1948-07-16)16 July 1948
Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Died29 September 2022(2022-09-29) (aged 74)
Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Political partyAwami Workers Party (2012-2022)
Other political
affiliations		WPP (2010-2012)
NWP(1989-2010)
PNP (1983-1989)
MRD (1981-1983)
NDP (1975-1981)
NAP (1970-1975)
OccupationBaloch political leader
Known forPresident Awami Workers Party (2012-2022)

Yousuf Mustikhan (Urdu: یوسف مستی خان; 16 July 1948 – 29 September 2022) was a Pakistani politician who was the president of the Awami Workers Party.[2][3][4][5]

Early life and education

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Mustikhan was born in Karachi, Pakistan, on 16 July 1948. He got his early education from two schools in Karachi. He got his further education in eighth grade from Burn Hall School, Abbottabad.[6] After three years, he came back and got further education from Karachi Grammar School and St. Patrick's High School, Karachi. He studied in Sindh Arts College, Karachi for a while and completed his BA degree in 1968 from Government National College, Karachi.[citation needed]

Political struggle

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Baloch Students Organisation

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Mustikhan started politics as a student in the 1960s when he joined Baloch Students Organization while studying in Sindh Arts College, Karachi and became a Baloch nationalist.[7] Mustikhan worked with Baloch Marxist leader Lal Bakhsh Rind who converted the Baloch Students Organisation to progressive political movement.[8][9]

National Awami Party

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Mustikhan, while living in Lyari, Karachi joined National Awami Party (NAP) with Lal Bakhsh Rind and witnessed many positive traditions of Lyari like the launch of evening schools in streets for hundreds of less privileged children. National Awami Party helped to promote political awareness, Baloch literature and culture in Lyari.[10] While living in Balochistan, Mustikhan used to participate in underground activities of National Awami Party (NAP).

National Democratic Party

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When formation of National Democratic Party (NDP) in 1975 was announced by Sherbaz Khan Mazari, Mustikhan joined NDP as member of its Central Committee and later, was elected as president of NDP (Karachi).[7] Mustikhan also joined multi-party alliance called Movement for the Restoration of Democracy (MRD) formed on 6 February 1981, to oppose Zia’s regime.[11] Later, Mustikhan joined Pakistan National Party[12] (PNP)(1983)[13] as member of its central committee and later became the PNP (Karachi) president.[7]

National Workers Party

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In 1989, after Ghaus Bakhsh Bizenjo’s death, under the leadership of Mustikhan, Pakistan National Party merged with Awami Jamhoori Party to form the National Workers Party (Pakistan).[14] Mustikhan served as general secretary of the National Workers Party.[15][16][17][18][19]

Workers Party Pakistan

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Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party and National Workers Party merged to form Workers Party Pakistan in 2010. Mustikhan served as vice president of Workers party Pakistan.[20] He was part of the Sindh Progressive Committee (SPC), which comprised the Workers Party, Labour Party, Awami Party and other left wing and nationalist parties.[21] He was also part of Save Sindh Movement.[22][23]

Awami Workers Party

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Mustikhan was member of its central committee when Awami Workers Party was formed in 2012.[24] In 2016, Mustikhan was elected as senior vice president of the party.[25][26][27][28]

On 1 December 2018, after the death of party’s second president Fanoos Gujjar,[29] Mustikhan was announced as third President of AWP.[30] Since then he was serving as federal president of party.[31][32][33] As president of AWP, he was vocal on issues of land grab,[34] land reform issue,[35][36][37] housing crisis,[38] women's rights,[39] students' rights,[40] forced conversions of minority girls,[41] missing persons,[42][43] and economic crisis of country[44] etc. He was arrested and charged with sedition in December, 2021 while demanding very basic human rights for people of Gwadar[45] in a protest organised by 'Gwadar ko Haq do'[46][47][48][49] (Give Rights to Gwadar) movement[50] in Gwadar, Balochistan.[51] Earlier in March, 2021 his session was cancelled in Sindh Literature Festival.[52]

In AWP's third central congress, he was elected again as president on 12–13 March 2022 in Lahore.[53]

Mustikhan also headed Sindh Indigenous Rights Alliance which was formed in 2015 against the land grabbing.[54][55]

Mustikhan also served as a central leader of the Baloch Muttahida Mahaz (BMM), a Baloch rights body, based in Karachi.[56][57]

Mustikhan was selected as the first convener[58] of the United Democratic Front,[59] an alliance of left leaning parties formed in June, 2022 in Islamabad.

Mustikhan died in Karachi on 29 September 2022, at the age of 74, after suffering from liver cancer.[60][61]

References

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  1. ^ "List of Enlisted Political Parties" (PDF). www.ecp.gov.pk. Election Commission of Pakistan. 27 February 2023. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  2. ^ Baloch, Behram (10 December 2021). "Baloch leader Mir Yousuf Masti held for making 'anti-state' speech in Gwadar". DAWN.COM.
  3. ^ Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (22 April 2019). "AWP vows to struggle against economic crisis". DAWN.COM.
  4. ^ "Babar urges 'Left' to reverse slide of 1980s". www.thenews.com.pk.
  5. ^ Butt, Naveed (5 October 2022). "Babar discusses causes of fall of Left in Pakistan". Brecorder.
  6. ^ Rajpar, Mushtaq (3 October 2022). "A lifetime of struggle". DAWN.COM.
  7. ^ a b c "Yousuf Musti Khan – Karachi Literature Festival".
  8. ^ "Baloch leader remembered". DAWN.COM. 2 October 2010.
  9. ^ "Remembering a warrior". www.thenews.com.pk.
  10. ^ Mansoor, Hasan (16 November 2016). "Book on Lyari sparks debate on old Karachi's political history". DAWN.COM.
  11. ^ Paracha, Nadeem F. (17 July 2020). "Once Upon An Uprising: An Alarmist History of the 1983 MRD Movement". Naya Daur.
  12. ^ Samaa Web Desk (29 September 2022). "Renowned politician Yusuf Mastikhan died at 76". Samaa.
  13. ^ Correspondent, The Newspaper's Staff (8 November 2020). "Political activist Gardezi dies of coronavirus". DAWN.COM. {{cite news}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  14. ^ "Leftward Ho!". Newsline. 16 July 2018.
  15. ^ "Country be declared multi-nation state: JSM". DAWN.COM. 27 July 2004.
  16. ^ "KARACHI: Lyari tense after Baloch leader's assassination". DAWN.COM. 9 January 2005.
  17. ^ "President urged to cede all powers". DAWN.COM. 20 November 2009.
  18. ^ Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (16 July 2010). "Killing of Baloch leader condemned". DAWN.COM.
  19. ^ "KARACHI: `Ethnic party` blamed for Nisar Baloch murder". DAWN.COM. 15 November 2009.
  20. ^ "Baloch leader remembered". DAWN.COM. 2 October 2010.
  21. ^ "Forced conversions: As leftists protest, ST takes offence". The Express Tribune. 17 April 2012.
  22. ^ "Conference calls for new social contract". DAWN.COM. 24 March 2010.
  23. ^ "Left and nationalist parties rally and declaration on Sindh situation". Journeys to democracy. 25 August 2011.
  24. ^ Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (11 November 2012). "Conference to launch left-wing party today". DAWN.COM.
  25. ^ "Way forward: Fanoos Gujjar takes up AWP mantle". The Express Tribune. 17 October 2016.
  26. ^ Hasan, Shazia (18 March 2017). "Women's struggle as peasants, workers & homemakers highlighted". DAWN.COM.
  27. ^ "'Land reforms imperative for development in the true sense'". www.thenews.com.pk.
  28. ^ "AWP moot on Russian revolution concludes". www.thenews.com.pk.
  29. ^ Correspondent, The Newspaper's (2 December 2018). "AWP chairman Fanoos Gujjar passes away". DAWN.COM. {{cite news}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  30. ^ "Dispossessed families protest influential builders' illegal occupation". Daily Times. 10 February 2018.
  31. ^ "Civil society groups protest against IMF, contract labour system and privatisation". Daily Times. 12 August 2018.
  32. ^ "Veteran politician Mustikhan suggests setting up truth, reconciliation body for conflict resolution in Balochistan, KP".
  33. ^ "Delegation of Journalists, Political, Social leaders visited Bahria Town affected villages". Daily City News.
  34. ^ Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (21 June 2021). "AWP announces series of protests against land grab". DAWN.COM.
  35. ^ "Land reforms: 'Feudalism and democracy cannot go hand in hand'". The Express Tribune. 28 January 2016.
  36. ^ Ali, Imtiaz (23 May 2021). "'Modern form of colonisation': APC terms Bahria Town Karachi illegal, demands the land be returned to original position". DAWN.COM.
  37. ^ "AWP Activist 'Abducted' From Home Ahead Of Countrywide Protest Against Bahria Town". Naya Daur. 26 June 2021.
  38. ^ Hasan, Shazia (1 November 2021). "'Encroachments' demolition leaves a trail of human misery in Karachi". DAWN.COM.
  39. ^ "Aurat March organisers backed". www.thenews.com.pk.
  40. ^ "Students' Solidarity March gains momentum in Pakistan". Peoples Dispatch. 22 November 2019.
  41. ^ "Protest held to express solidarity with Hindus after Ghotki violence". www.thenews.com.pk.
  42. ^ Report, Dawn (15 December 2014). "Protests in parts of Sindh against discovery of bodies, 'enforced disappearance'". DAWN.COM.
  43. ^ "Breaking the silence". www.thenews.com.pk.
  44. ^ "PTI govt turning Pakistan into a banana republic, alleges AWP". www.thenews.com.pk.
  45. ^ "Yousuf Masti Khan dies". www.thenews.com.pk.
  46. ^ Baloch, Behram (17 November 2021). "Thousands take part in Gwadar sit-in". DAWN.COM.
  47. ^ Baloch, Behram (19 November 2021). "Gwadar residents take to streets for basic rights". DAWN.COM.
  48. ^ "Haq Do: Thousands march for their rights in Gwadar | SAMAA". Samaa TV.
  49. ^ Nihad, Ghalib (29 November 2021). "Scores of women rally in Balochistan's Gwadar for basic rights". DAWN.COM.
  50. ^ "Gwadar protest". The Express Tribune. 30 November 2021.
  51. ^ "BAC demands freedom for veteran Baloch leader Yousuf Mustikhan | Baloch American Congress".
  52. ^ "Session On Balochistan Abruptly Cancelled At Sindh Literature Festival". Naya Daur. 15 March 2021.
  53. ^ Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (14 March 2022). "AWP vows to strive for socialist society". DAWN.COM.
  54. ^ "Furious protesters attack Bahria Town, ransack shops, put on fire vehicles". Pakistan Today. 6 June 2021.
  55. ^ "Indigenous Rights Alliance called central committee meeting". Daily City News.
  56. ^ "Moot flays govt over sale of narcotics, announces rally from Malir to Lyari". www.thenews.com.pk.
  57. ^ Baloch, Behram (11 December 2021). "BMM chief Yousuf Masti Khan released from Gwadar jail". DAWN.COM.
  58. ^ "The formation of a new front of progressive forces called the United Democratic Front Geo Tv News".
  59. ^ Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (28 June 2022). "Left-leaning political parties form alliance". DAWN.COM.
  60. ^ Asif, Qazi (29 September 2022). "Seasoned politician Yousuf Mustikhan dies at 74". Aaj English TV.
  61. ^ Siddiqui, Tahir (30 September 2022). "Veteran leftist Yousuf Mustikhan passes away". DAWN.COM.
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