MULTAN: The first death anniversary of human rights activist, lawyer and regional coordinator for the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Rashid Rehman, was observed here on Thursday.

A seminar to pay a tribute to Rashid Rehman, highlighting the difficulties of human rights activists, was organised by the HRCP’s Special Task Force at the Multan Press Club.

Columnist Dr Tausif Ahmed Khan, Athar Rehman, Nafees Ahmed Ansari, Jamshed Rizwani, Imrana Komal, Ziaur Rehman, Zuhra Sajjad Zedi, Faisal Mehmood Tangwani and Sohail Javed were the prominent speakers at the seminar.

They said Rashid Rehman had sacrificed his life to promote justice in society and he was the strongest voice for labourers, farmers, minorities, women and other marginalised communities of south Punjab.

They said Mr Rehman had submitted applications to the district bar and police about the threats he received in the presence of a judge during a trial in jail on April 9, 2014, but no action was taken against them.

The speakers said those holding power in the country did not want equal rights for citizens and they were using religious fanatics to achieve their targets, adding the state had been converted into a national security state after its creation and the elements who opposed a progressive Pakistan were killing the rights activists to silence their voice.

Later, a candlelit vigil was held for Rashid Rehman, Sabeen Mehmud and other human rights activists who lost their lives in the struggle to protect the rights of people.

Rehman had taken up the case of Junaid Hafeez, a lecturer in English at the Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, who was accused of blasphemy. He was shot dead by gunmen on May 7, 2014, in his Multan office.

SAHIWAL: A candlelit vigil was held at Yadgar Chowk to pay a tribute to Rashid Rehman.

The vigil was organised by activists from the Insan Dost Association, Lok Sujag, Lok Rahs, Wapda Workers Union and home-based and brick kiln workers.

Samina Sabah, a Punjabi language activist, said the purpose of the gathering was to show solidarity with those who struggled for fundamental and legal rights of the people.

Anjum Matto also spoke.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2015

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