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Friday, November 01, 2013

Intellectuals, activists pay tribute to Iqbal Haider


Staff Report

KARACHI: Intellectuals and civil society activist at the Karachi Press Club paid rich tributes to former law minister and human rights activist Iqbal Haider at a launch ceremony of a book containing his articles by Zulfiqar Halepoto, “Voice of Reason” on Thursday.

Justice (Rtd) Fakhruddin G Ebrahim said Iqbal Haider was a true humanist, who worked for humanity without any discrimination. He recalled that when he became the Sindh governor, the first person he invited was Iqbal Haider. “He asked me to make the Governor House a public place, especially the portion which was in use by Quaid-e-Azam, should be accessible to the children,” he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Shahid Siddiqui, MP from India said late Iqbal Haider was an advocate of secularism, active in increasing people-to-people contact and raised human rights issues. “In India Iqbal Haider is regarded as champion of human rights, who fought a legal battle in Supreme Court of Pakistan for release of Indian fishermen,” he said.

Karamat Ali of PILER praised the efforts of Haider for workers, especially fishermen of both India and Pakistan. He recalled that in 2011, he appeared in the Supreme Court of Pakistan on behalf of Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) and PILER, in a case for release of Indian fishermen, which gave relief to over 450 Indian fishermen and released by Pakistan Government.

BM Kutty of the PPC recalled his political struggle along with late Iqbal Haider. “He was not only a leading lawyer, but also a political worker, who extensively worked for rights of downtrodden people. He was a strong advocate of peace in the South Asia,” added Kutty.

Dr Jaffar Ahmed, Chairman of Pakistan Study Centre, University of Karachi expressed regrets that secularism is misunderstood and misinterpreted in Pakistan and those who support secularism are condemned and criticised. He pointed out the state should be neutral for all religions and all over the world there is a separate space for religion and secularism in a state. Europe adopted secularism and provided a space to the religions, where people practice their religions according to their beliefs. “The state should be secular and neutral in Pakistan,” he said. “If there is pluralism in a society people would accommodate each others’ belief and like diversity for betterment of the collective life.”

Unfortunately, the state and state institutions have created a fundamentalism platform where there is no writ of the state. “Instead of a dialogue, you can engage fundamentalist like Britain had engaged in Northern Ireland.

The compiler of the book, Zulfiqar Halepoto, lauded the role of Iqbal Haider as Senator. “When Nawaz Sharif was the prime minister in 1997-99, he wanted to impose Shariah and become Ameerul Mominin but Senate was the institution, which prevented his designs. “Iqbal Haider was among a few Senators who raised his voice against religious fundamentalism in Pakistan,” he said.

Halepoto said many communist leaders left their struggle, but Haider, until his death, tried to save the state from religious fundamentalism.

The first woman judge of the country Justice (Rtd) Majida Razvi also spoke and appreciated the efforts of Haider for human rights.

Alizey Iqbal Haider, MNA and daughter of Iqbal Haider, thanked the author and the speakers for their comments.


Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk



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