LARKANA: To condemn the brutal murder of HRCP’s Multan task force coordinator Rashid Rehman, activists of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Progressive Youth Commission and other rights bodies took out a procession in Shahdadkot on Sunday.

Carrying banners and placards, the protesters led by Abdul Wahab Pandrani and Murad Pandrani marched on the main roads and assembled at the Koto-Moto Chowk and held meeting.

They appreciated the courage and boldness of the slain lawyer and human rights activist, saying that despite ups and downs, he would always stand by the downtrodden, labour class and oppressed people.

Describing Mr Rehman’s death as a great loss to the cause of human rights, the leaders said the murder had traumatized the struggle in southern Punjab because he had become the voice of the area’s poor and oppressed people.

The deceased had received life threats even in the court for pleading a blasphemy case against a lecturer, but the rulers of the time had ignored the threats, the speakers said.

Such threats could not force him him to withdraw from the case which showed his unshaken commitment to people’s rights, they said.

The protesters urged the Punjab government to ensure early arrest of Mr Rehman’s killers and security to other rights activists.

They said the federal and Punjab governments would be responsible if any harm was caused to the activists, including Asma Jehangir, Marvi Sarmad, Imtiaz Alam and Hassan Nisar.