Human rights crusader I.A Rehman passes away
LAHORE: Human right crusader and legend intellectual journalist I.A Rehman passed away here on Monday. He was 91.
Ibn Abdur Rehman also known as I.A. Rehman was born on September 1, 1930 in Haryana. Rehman grew up in both a “religious and secular” household, and his father and grandfather were landowners who belonged to Haryana in British India.
I.A Rehman was a veteran communist, Pakistani peace and human rights advocate. He became chief editor of the Pakistan Times newspaper in 1989.
He was bold and vocal but well formulated voice about political, rights issues.
He contributed hundreds of columns to Daily Dawn, The News, Herald, Newsline and many other periodicals and newspapers.
He served as General Secretary and Director of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP).
As peace lover, Rehamn was the founding chair of the Pakistan-India Peoples’ Forum for Peace and Democracy.
Rehman has been influential for promoting peace in the Indo-Pakistani wars and conflicts and in Kashmir conflict as well as for other human rights issues in Pakistan.
In an interview he said, “I’ve been working to defend people’s human rights all my life. And, I will continue to do so.”
In 2015, many human rights activists including I.A. Rehman urged the Pakistani government to ‘criminalise child labour in hazardous environments’.
According to Dawn, one activist doctor said, “I have seen cases where children have contracted tuberculosis because they worked in hazardous environments. Making children work such jobs should be criminalized.”
Rehman was honoured with many award including Ramon Magsaysay Award for Peace and International Understanding in 2004 and Nuremberg International Human Rights Award in 2003.
After Asma Jehangir I.A Rehman’s death will be considered a huge loss for rights and democracy activists.
Intellectuals, leaders and activists across the world are grieved, and expressing there sorrows and pain on social media.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari condoles
News of I.A Rehman’s sudden demise is a shock to me and to every Pakistani patriot.
With his demise, a tireless advocate of democracy in Pakistan is no more with us, the powerful voice of human rights was silenced.
CM Sindh
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah expressing deep sorrow over the demise of human rights fighter I.A Rehman said late IA Rehman always spoke of the stability and values of democracy. Rehman will live forever in history.
