By By our correspondent
The demise of Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi has left hundreds of his followers, friends and relatives in mourning, and created a huge vacuum in the political scene of the country. His death has resulted in the loss of a pioneer who promoted cultural and educational activities in Sindh, and served as a traditionally powerful link between the political leadership of all four provinces — a privilege only a few politicians have enjoyed in the country.
Throughout his association with Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Jatoi was considered the ‘right hand’ of the party’s founding chairman, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. He had been equally acceptable to traditional political families of Sindh, Balochistan, NWFP, and Punjab, and had a close relationship with Seraiki, Mohajir and other nationalist and political groups.
Jatoi’s elders belonged to a forest village called Jatoi Village, which, in 1930 shifted to another place called New Jatoi. Since then this small town has remained one of the main centers for political dialogue, the formation of governments and negotiations for power.
Born to a traditional landlord family of Ghulam Rasool Jatoi in New Jatoi, district Naushehro Feroz, he mostly remained non-controversial except once when he supported President Ayub Khan. However he abandoned Khan in 1969 and joined the PPP.
Jatoi was considered a cool and calm politician who never believed in adventurism in the politics. He was also famous for his loyalty towards his friends during his long political career.
Jatoi led the Movement for Restoration of Democracy (MRD), which was run by the friends of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto after failing to stop Bhutto from hanging. He handed himself over to the police at Mazar-e-Qaid on August 14, 1983, to strengthen the movement.
During the MRD, Jatoi’s sons and other family members were arrested and the irrigation canals to Jatoi’s family lands were blocked and their crops destroyed.
Hhe was also famous for not blaming other politicians. For instance, in his last interview, even though he realised the incapability of the PPP leadership to save Z.A Bhutto from hanging, he did not use harsh language for them. Similarly after his disassociation from the PPP, Jatoi never used any harsh words against the successors of Z.A Bhutto. This calm attitude was perhaps one reason for the respect that he earned during his political life.
Jatoi also promoted educational activities in Sindh. As the chief minister of the province, he launched the Peoples Medical College and Mehran Engineering College (now Quaid-e-Awam University of Engineering and Technology) in Nawabshah, and built a large number of secondary and primary schools in the most backward areas.
People also give credit to Jatoi for building Moro-Dadu Bridge which was the major demand of the people living on both sides of the River Indus.
Being the grandson of poet and social reformer, Khan Bahadur Imam Bakhsh alias ‘Sabir Jatoi’, Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi followed the footprints of his ancestors and contributed greatly to the promotion of literature and cultural activities in the province. He organised the week-long mega-cultural and historical event “Sindh Through the Centuries” in Karachi, and asked leading scholars of Sindh to explore the history of the province and suggest ways to promote old cultural values. This event attracted hundreds of writers, artists, intellectuals, and students.