KARACHI: This year’s Habib Jalib Peace Award will be given to eminent rights activist, the late Asma Jahangir for her struggle for democracy and human rights, announced Saeed Pervaiz, secretary of the Habib Jalib Amn Award Committee.

However, due to the situation arising out of the coronavirus outbreak, the ceremony for the event, which was to take place in March, will be held some time later this year.

Talking to Dawn Mr Pervaiz, who is also the younger brother of the late poet Jalib, said this would be the 14th award given to honour the services of a distinguished individual. Last year, renowned artist Jimmy Engineer was selected for the prize. Other recipients, since 2007, include the likes of Abdul Sattar Edhi, Dr Adeebul Hasan Rizvi and Dr Ruth Pfau.

Mr Pervaiz was hopeful that the message of the poet and human rights activist to whom the award would be given posthumously, would reach the masses to whom they had dedicated their lives.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2020