KARACHI, Nov 25: The launching of late journalist Maisoon Husein’s book For Life, Peace and Justice on Friday brought together a number of jurists, human right activists, trade unionists and journalists at the Karachi Press Club to speak on various social issues relevant to the writings of the Dawn staffer who died in 2003 of caner.

Compiled and edited by Zubeda Mustafa, a colleague of Maisoon for many years in Dawn, the book contains 55 articles that deal with prison conditions, child abuse, workers’ problems, bonded labour, and exploitation of women in society.

The Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research Karachi (PILER) undertook the book’s publication and is now in process of releasing its Urdu edition. Dr Jaffer Ahmad of the Pakistan Study Centre in the Karachi University looked after the printing.

Justice Nasir Aslam Zahid, a retired judge of Supreme Court and chief guest of the function, referred to Maisoon’s articles on the issue of the prison conditions and disclosed that there were now prisoners twice the capacity of the prisons in Sindh. Yet another aspect, he said, was that the number of convicts is hardly five per cent of the under-trial prisoners in the jails.

He recalled that Maisoon, whom he never met, wrote on prison conditions in her articles which attracted attention of the concerned people. But, he regretted, there has been no qualitative change.

The only women jail in Karachi said is now focus of attention of the reformers who want to make it a model reform house. He also spoke of the problems being faced by the women in the context of Hudood Ordinance and Karo-kari. A woman or girl is declared ‘Kari’ on flimsy grounds.

Justice Nasir Aslam Zahid regretted that jirgas had been declared illegal and unconstitutional by the court, but Sindh chief minister and other government functionaries continue to attend jirgas and become part of their decisions.

He said that the compensation for earthquake victims in Kashmir and Mansehra involved a lot of legal hassles, and pointed out the problems being faced in payment of compensation in Sri Lanka to the heirs of those who had fallen victim to tsunami. Maisoon had a knack of writing on such complex issues after interacting with experts, victims and stakeholders. Her writings, the justice said, should be a source of inspiration to the young journalists.

Justice Rasheed Rizvi, a retired judge of the Sindh High Court called Maisoon ‘a complete and perfect journalist’ who cared for small and minute facts before writing on any issue.

“She wrote with conviction and responsibility so much so that her writings are now pieces of reference for social scientists and researchers.”

Karamat Ali, Director of PILER, said Maisoon identified herself with the labour movement in the country. She wrote a lot of articles on various labour issues and child labour.

Zeenat Hissam, a journalist who also worked with Maisoon in Dawn recalled the pains and labour the late journalist used to take while researching and probing before writing on any issue.

Dr Habiba Hassan, a medical practitioner and human rights activist, said that Maisoon was a brave journalist who wrote on subjects and issues that hurt the powerful in the society.

Dr Jaffer said Maisoon remained a responsible and meticulous journalists till last as she would seek views and opinion of persons about her writing before getting it printed.

Zubeda Mustafa recollected her association with Maisoon, who was quiet but full of life and loved good things.