Ayaz Latif Palijo is a Pakistani lawyer, nationalist politician, writer and activist from Sindh. Born on 15 November 1968 in Hyderabad, he has spent much of his public life advocating for the rights of Sindh's people, for civil liberties, and for democratic reform.
Family and early life
Palijo was born into one of Sindh's best-known political families. His father, Rasool Bux Palijo, was a scholar, writer and the founder of the Awami Tahreek, while his mother, Jeejee Zarina Baloch, was a celebrated folk singer and campaigner for women's rights. Growing up in this environment, he was drawn into activism at an early age and, while still a child, served in the youth wing of the Awami Tahreek.
Education
He pursued an unusually broad education. He first trained as a civil engineer at the Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, then studied law at the University of Sindh in Jamshoro. He later studied environment and development through the LEAD programme at the University of British Columbia in Canada, and completed a master's degree in rural development linked to Wye College in the United Kingdom. Alongside Sindhi, Urdu and Balochi, he is also conversant in English, Seraiki, Punjabi and Persian.
Legal career
Palijo is a constitutional and human-rights lawyer at the Sindh High Court. He has taken up many public-interest cases for marginalised communities, on issues such as bonded labour, child labour, violence against women and minorities, honour killings and prisoners' rights. He was among the lawyers active in the movement that led to the restoration of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, and he has also taught law in Sindh.
Political career
Palijo is the president of the Qaumi Awami Tahreek (Peoples' National Movement). He founded and convened the Sindh Progressive Nationalist Alliance and was a co-founder and secretary general of the Grand Democratic Alliance. A consistent voice for provincial autonomy, he has opposed proposals to divide Sindh and campaigned against the Kalabagh Dam. In 2012 he led a three-day "Muhabbat-e-Sindh" train march from Karachi to Islamabad, and in the 2013 general election he contested a provincial assembly seat from Qasimabad, Hyderabad.
Writer and public voice
Beyond law and politics, Palijo is the author of six books and has written hundreds of newspaper columns on Sindh's history, politics and social issues. He has presented papers at international conferences and universities abroad, and continues to campaign on issues including water shortages, child protection and the forced conversion of minority girls.