The Indian Civil Society has lambasted the Narendra Modi-led New Delhi regime for its criminal negligence amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, arguing that the Indian government has lost its credibility to represent the people of India, and called for strong global political commitment to address the challenges in public health care.
The writer is Dawn’s correspondent in Delhi.
SOMETHING in I.A. Rehman Rehman Sahib to his followers reminded me of the old-school communists who shunned the know-it-all airs and spoke simply and lucidly on complex issues of history or science or politics without intimidating the listener. I would meet him often in Delhi either on Syeda Saiyedain’s manicured lawns or at a packed lecture overflowing with fans or an occasional music concert where he would dissolve himself into a different world.
One day he was in a hurry to catch the plane to Lahore but still found the time to run through Khan Market’s stores for gifts for his grandchildren. In a shawl store, I introduced him to Priyanka Gandhi who was buying a sweater for her maid. In that half-minute exchange, she said she was aware of his work for human rights and was proud to meet him. Rehman Sahib wasted no time to remind her to do more to save India’s democracy from militarism and poverty. That was years ago.
Iconic rights activist IA Rehman passes away dailytimes.com.pk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from dailytimes.com.pk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Journalist, human rights defender IA Rehman is no more
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April 13, 2021
LAHORE: I.A. Rehman, an iconic Pakistani human rights defender and journalist, died after a brief illness on Monday, his family and friends said. He was 90.
He died of old age, high sugar, and blood pressure level, according to Harris Khalique, secretary-general of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. I.A. Rehman had been associated with the HRCP for a long time. He worked as an editor for various newspapers before joining the commission. He regularly contributed articles for Pakistani newspapers.
I.A. Rehman was born in 1930 in Haryana in India. He was the author of three books and an advocate of peace between Pakistan and India.