Mehdi Hasan: A man of unwavering principles, passes away

BATHINDA: The human rights and peace activists from Pakistan have condoled the demise of Dr Mehdi Hasan, former chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP). The 84 years old Mehdi Hasan was a known activist, journalist and academic. He headed the HRCP, a nonprofit organisation working for fighting for the rights of people.
Hasan, who was a member of the present Council, passed away on Wednesday at Lahore.A veteran journalist, public intellectual and one of Pakistan’s foremost media historians, Dr Hasan was twice elected chairperson of HRCP and five times as an office-bearer of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists.
As a teacher of journalism at the University of Punjab and subsequently at Beaconhouse National University, he nurtured several generations of reporters and columnists, emphasising the integrity of facts and evidence, stated a press release issued by HRCP chairperson Hina Jilani.
It said a secular man, Dr Hasan had the courage of his convictions and long warned that Pakistan could not hope to become a true democracy so long as it pandered to religious nationalism. His unwavering commitment to freedom of religion, expression and opinion gave direction to human rights defenders and progressive journalists across Pakistan, release further stated.
Peace activist and journalist from Pakistan but presently based in Boston said that in Mehdi Hasan we have lost a fearless voice, who guided many in Pakistan to raise voice for rights. As one of the activists made tweets Senator Sherry Rehman in a tweet wrote very sorry to see the venerable Dr Mehdi Hasan leaves us. Had the honour of serving with him on the HRCP council for many years. His integrity and values were above reproach. He held on against pressure to his vote principles always.
Meanwhile, Sharafat Ali, a former Senior Staff member of the Pakistan institute of labor & research (PILER) also passed away on Wednesday.
Sharafat was sick for some time. He was a longtime worker with PILER taking up workers’ rights in Pakistan as well as with Pakistan India People's Forum for peace and democracy (PIPFPD).