COMRADE C R ASLAM     On July 12, on behalf of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), its general secretary Prakash Karat sent the following message to Abid Hasan Minto, president of the National Workers Party, Pakistan, condoling the demise of veteran communist leader Comrade C R Aslam.   IT is with a sense of deep grief that I have learnt of the death of Comrade C R Aslam, a veteran of the communist movement in Pakistan.   Ever since he joined the Communist Party of India in 1940, Comrade Aslam remained unwavering in his commitment to the cause of the working class. During his eventful life he was jailed many times and faced untold sufferings.   Comrade Aslam will be remembered by people on both sides of the border for his dedicated service to the cause of socialism, against oppression and his passionate resistance of the military regimes.   A stalwart of the Left movement in Pakistan, Comrade Aslam was held in high esteem by friends and foes alike. His death is a big loss for the Left and democratic movement in Pakistan.   I pay homage to his memory. Please convey my heartfelt condolences to his family members.     On the same day, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury sent the following message on behalf of the party’s international relations department.   I WAS deeply saddened to learn of the death of Comrade C R Aslam, a veteran of the communist movement in Pakistan.   Known for his deep commitment to the working class movement, Comrade Aslam laboured hard to develop and strengthen the Left and progressive movement in Pakistan. His zeal for the cause of the movement was unwavering ever since he joined the Communist Party of India in 1940. It was on account of this that he had to face severe repression and was jailed several times.   I will always cherish my visit to Pakistan when I met him at his Temple Road residence. Despite his age and failing health, he was full of zest and youth.   His death is a big loss to the Left and progressive movement in Pakistan. It has left a big void which would be difficult to fill in the near future. I pay respectful homage to his memory and convey my heartfelt condolences his family members.     http://pd.cpim.org/2007/0715/07152007_com%20c%20r%20aslam.htm