ISLAMABAD: Tributes poured in on Monday for Ibn Abdur Rehman, famously known as I A Rehman, a leading Pakistani rights activist and journalist and fearless critic of democracy, who died in Lahore at the age of 90.
Rehman was a protégé of the great Urdu poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz and became chief editor of the Pakistan Times newspaper in 1989. He wrote a regular column for Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper until a few days before he died. He was the founding chair of the Pakistan-India Peoples’ Forum for Peace and Democracy and a director of the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) since 1990.
His death was announced by the HRCP:
#IARehman, HRCP's honorary spokesperson, former secretary-general and veteran journalist has passed away. A titan of human rights, Mr Rehman's integrity, conscience and compassion were unparalleled. pic.twitter.com/IusELcPTSu
— Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (@HRCP87) April 12, 2021
Rehman had died of old age and high sugar and blood pressure levels, HRCP secretary-general Harris Khalique said.
Rehman had a reputation for speaking truth to power and defending the weak and the marginalized against injustice. He gained international acclaim for being the conscience of a country where liberal, secular voices have continuously been under threat and never minced his words while defending democracy and speaking against military rulers. He was known around the world for championing the rights of Pakistan’s religious minorities.
Paying homage to Rehman, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Pakistan had lost a “true icon“:
Pakistan has lost a true icon today with the passing of I.A. Rehman. A staunch advocate and activist for Human Rights and an intellectual, I.A Rehman sahib leaves behind a rich legacy that speaks of tolerance, inclusion, equality and dignity.
— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) April 12, 2021
Human rights minister Shireen Mazari said Rehman had “steadfastly” stood by what he believed in:
Sad to hear of the passing of I A Rehman - a unique personality - as someone said "a marxist-democrat" who stood by & struggled steadfastly for what he believed in. Respect. RIP.
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) April 12, 2021
Science and technology minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said “a giant intellectual and humanitarian” was no more:
A giant intellectual and humanitarian I.A Rehman is no more, a true liberal and humanist I.A Rehman will always be missed #IARehman
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) April 12, 2021
Sherry Rehman, a lawmaker from the opposition Pakistan People’s Party, called Rehman an “icon of integrity”:
Shocked and immeasurably saddened to hear of IA Rehman’s passing from Covid! He was an icon of integrity, standing steadfast for every single fundamental right,every single democratic value in the worst of times. Pakistan will not be the same without him. May be rest in peace.
— SenatorSherryRehman (@sherryrehman) April 12, 2021
The World Organization Against Torture called Rehman “a giant of human rights”:
#Pakistan: IA Rehman was a giant of human rights, a man of courage and compassion and a delightful storyteller. We are deeply grateful for his support, including most recently to our efforts to put an end to torture under the pretext of counter-terrorism. https://t.co/QQjREDlYsk
— OMCT (@omctorg) April 12, 2021
“A very sad day for human rights,” opposition ANP party leader Bushra Gohar tweeted:
A very sad day for #HumanRights activists. #IARehman was indeed a visionary leader & a mentor. His legacy will continue to guide us in resisting #Pakistan's worst ever #MartialLaw & #HumanRights abuses. Goodbye & #RIPRehman saib. Heartfelt condolences to @HRCP87 & his family. BG https://t.co/JMlflsSZCo
— Bushra Gohar (@BushraGohar) April 12, 2021
EU ambassador to Pakistan, Androulla Kaminara, said rights defenders like Rehman “remind us of the fundamental values we should all aspire to”:
Saddened to hear the news about I.A.Rehman. Human Rights defenders are a vital and necessary part of any society as they remind us of the fundamental values we should all aspire to. He worked tirelessly towards this goal. Rest in peace and condolences to his family. https://t.co/xc4nqbx4Tj
— Androulla Kaminara (@AKaminara) April 12, 2021
Renowned journalist Najam Sethi said “the light of our times” has passed away:
The light of our times, I A Rehman, has passed away. RIP. pic.twitter.com/DDtNrY4ljJ
— Najam Sethi (@najamsethi) April 12, 2021
LUMS professor and popular columnist Umair Javed wrote on Twitter:
“IA Rehman sb, a singular force for progressive ideals and, very frequently, just plain common sense in Pakistan’s public sphere, is no more. What a great loss.”
IA Rehman sb, a singular force for progressive ideals and, very frequently, just plain common sense in Pakistan’s public sphere, is no more. What a great loss.
— Umair Javed (@umairjav) April 12, 2021
New York Times journalist and author Declan Walsh said he had “learned much from him” when he was a reporter in Pakistan:
I.A. Rehman, the great sage of Pakistan's human rights movement, has died.
Born in pre-partition India and a protégé of Faiz, his disappointment with the failings of Pakistan was counterbalanced by his evident love for the country. I learned much from him. R.I.P. https://t.co/Y1OfNlHlCD— Declan Walsh (@declanwalsh) April 12, 2021