[1] He was tortured to death on 9 August 1980[2][3] in government of Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq while in the custody of FIU Field Intelligence Unit of Pakistan Army.

[7] He was first arrested as a member of Azad Marorra Students Federation in 1969, which was demanding the publication of the electoral voter lists in Sindhi language.

In jail he was influenced by fellow political prisoners belonging to Sindh National Students Federation, an organization which he joined, and later became leader of.

Abbasi was arrested again in May 1978 by military during the dictatorship of Zia-ul-Haq charged with publication of clandestine monthly Halchal and was sent to notorious prison Quli Camp Quetta.

He was arrested again by the FIU Field Intelligence Unit of Pakistan Army's Brigadier Billa from Karachi on 30 July 1980, along with Professor Jamal Naqvi, Amarlal, Kamal Warsi and Shabbir Shar, who were later joined by Sohail Sangi, Badar Abro and others.