Prominent Indian-origin Pakistani politician B M Kutty passes away

New Delhi, Aug 26: Prominent Indian-origin Pakistani politician and human rights activist B M Kutty died on Sunday at a hospital in Karachi after a protracted illness. He was 89.

Biyyothil Mohyuddin Kutty, popularly known as B M Kutty, migrated to Pakistan from Kerala 70 years ago in 1949 when he was 19.

"He was ill for a while. He spent his life fighting for civil and human rights," said Marvi Sarmad, a human rights activist and journalist. His wife Birjis Siddiqui died in 2010. The couple has four children.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan condoled the death of Kutty and remembered him as a "leader who constantly fought for improving the relation between India and Pakistan".

"He (Kutty) was born in Tirur (in Malappuram district) and later emigrated to Pakistan and emerged as a major figure in Pakistan's politics," Vijayan said. "He was also a prominent journalist and a determined leader who fought for peace and against communalism," he added.

Kutty came to limelight after he launched his autobiography "Sixty years in self-exile: No Regrets; A Political Autobiography" in 2011. In the autobiography, he narrated the story about his journey from Kerala to Karachi, explaining why he had opted to stay in Pakistan.

Kutty was the general secretary of Pakistan Peace Coalition, a group that has been working to promote peace process between India and Pakistan.

Intellectuals, journalists and politicians expressed their condolences on Kutty's death and paid him rich tributes for his services for Pakistan and the community.

"Sad to learn about the death of veteran left activist BM Kutty. Originally, from Kerala, Kutty came to Pakistan as a young man and became a key figure in the politics of his new homeland, championing progressive causes...," Talat Aslam, a Pakistani journalist and editor of the News International daily, tweeted.

Born in 1930 in Tirur town in Kerala's Malappuram district, Kutty was the eldest of five siblings. He belonged to a Malayali Muslim family of peasants and landowners and was raised in middle-class circumstances.

During his student days, Kutty developed socialist and leftist political views and joined the Kerala Students Federation affiliated with the Communist Party.

In 1946, he also joined the Muslim Students Federation under the All-India Muslim League. He attended Mohammedan College in Chennai, where he studied science for four years.

Kutty took part in several political movements. The high point of his career was his association with Ghaus Baksh Bizenjo, the governor of Balochistan province in 1972. He also served as political secretary to the governor of Balochistan.