HYDERABAD: The movement for freedom of expression and rights lost a powerful voice with the demise of I.A. Rehman, human rights and civil society activists, literati and journalists speaking at a condolence reference held here on Thursday said.

I.A. Rehman had always remained at the forefront of all movements launched for enlightenment as well as promoting progressive, democratic and ideological values, they said.

The reference was organised by the Hyderabad Union of Jour­nalists (Afzal Butt group) and Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) at the local press club.

HRCP co-chairman Asad Iqbal Butt, who worked with him in the organisation for long, said Mr Rehman had started his professional career as a journalist. He noted that the journalist community, lawyers’ fraternity and literati had played a pivotal role in founding the HRCP. Mr Rehman was also one of the founding leaders of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and never encouraged groupings within it.

He said the late HRCP leader always talked about others’ rights and never became burden on others. Rather, he shared others’ burden, Mr Butt added.

He said Mr Rehman always discussed every subject and issue with his fellows boldly and had historical perspective of every point in his knowledge, he added.

Mr Butt recalled that I.A. Rehman became part of HRCP’s fact-finding teams that visited Balochistan after incidents of serious rights violations. “He stood fast in the face of challenges and kept worrying about others all the time. He had a multidimensional personality,” said Mr Butt, and expressed his confidence that Mr Rehman’s mission would continue as long as a single rights activist was alive.

HRCP Sindh president Qazi Khizr said that Mr Rehman had taught so many things and instilled qualities in the people who worked for human rights and joined such movement. His life would always be a guiding principle for the masses, he added.

He pointed out that I.A. Rehman’s 100 family members and relatives had lost their lives during the Pakistan Movement and partition but he never discussed his trauma with other people. Rather, he had advocated peace between Pakistan and India and kept struggling for human rights, said Mr Khizr.

Awami Workers Party’s Sindh president Dr Bakhshal Thalho said I.A. Rehman was a history of 100-year-old struggle. “His ideology needs to be strengthened by following his mission,” he added.

Writer Taj Joyo said I.A. Rehman’s vacuum could not be filled, and remarked: “He came from a rare breed of people; he courageously raised the issue of missing persons; people of Sindh will remember I.A. Rehman and Asma Jehangir for long”.

Comrade Taj Marri told the audience that the late leader led the fight for the rights of peasantry; he always raised his voice against bonded labour; he was a leader of underprivileged and democrats.

Rawadari Tehreek president Punhal Sario said that after the death of Asma Jehangir and I.A. Rehman, the HRCP needed to reorganise itself the way it had been organised two decades ago.

Other speakers included G.N. Mughal, Ghulam Mustafa Baloch, M. Parkash, Saleh Billu, Imdad Chandio, Jai Parkash, Ishaque Mangrio, Mahesh Kumar and Prof Abdul Majeed Chandio.

Published in Dawn, April 17th, 2021