KARACHI: Representatives of the civil society and leaders of political parties expressed their grief over the death of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MNA Fauzia Wahab. All of them were unanimous in saying that not only has the country lost a vocal political leader, but an activist who also championed the cause of human rights, minorities and marginalised society.
Many leaders from PPP and also Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) were present at the hospital when PPP Sindh’s information secretary, Waqar Mehdi, who, with Rashid Rabbani, announced the demise of Fauzia Wahab on Sunday.
She had been admitted to Orthopaedic and Medical Institute for the last three weeks. She had gone into a coma after a basic gall bladder surgery on Saturday.
Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, Minister for Sindh Information Technology Raza Haroon and Federal Minister Babar Ghauri were among the leaders who visited her at the hospital.
Babar Ghauri alleged that Wahab’s death was a consequence of doctors’ negligence. Memon said that it was at the discretion of the family members if they want take up the case or not. Remembering Wahab, PPP’s Saleem Khursheed Khokar said that her contribution for minority rights cannot be forgotten.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Sindh President Nadir Akmal Leghari said that Fauzia Wahab was a fierce political opponent. “She did not restrain herself from saying what she wanted to and was very logical,” he said.
Karamat Ali, of Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research, called Wahab an ‘enlightened lady’ who had worked for human rights since her student life and mobilised the people socially and politically.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s Saleem Zia, Sindh’s secretary-general, recalled that he had met Wahab at a wedding a few months ago. “I had a friendly chitchat with her with the usual political arguments,” said Zia. However, Zia said that they had worked together in the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy, and found her to be a hardworking and dedicated leader. The general secretary of Awami National Party, Bashir Jan, also expressed grief on Wahab’s demise and called it a big loss for the party.
Jamaat-e-Islami’s Karachi chief and former MNA, Mohammad Hussain Mehanti, remembered Wahab as a very able woman who had a lot of political acumen besides excellent skills in writing and speech.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 18th, 2012.
COMMENTS (12)
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@Riaz Khan:
if you think they have messed big time then why dont you file a lawsuit against the surgeon. and let the court/ commission or inquiry committee decide that its the fault of the doctor or not. But please dont blame anyone without proof. i said so in the previous post so cuz people have made habbit to blame doctors for every thing. like in the recent medicine case initially every one said that its the doctors fault 154 people died cuz of doctors fault and the young doctors are protecting the their seniors but later those who followed the incident know well that who were the people behind that. i have many times heard that the doctor left a knife/towel etc inside the patient, every1 blames doctors but know one knows that its also the duty of OT nurse to count the instrument/ towels etc.
File cases against the doctors and if found guilty they should be punished but before that you have no right to use harsh language against them
For God sake Mr. Substance try to understand it was simply a gall bladder surgery not a heart surgery. Surgeons & doctors must have messed big time! They need to be punished.
@Asif Ali: every1 signs a consent form bfr surgery and is prior informed about the risks/outcome of surgery. file a lawsuit against the doctors if u want to, come on people of pakistan who complaint for everthing in your country. huh and regarding india u are unaware about the facts. this hapens throughout the world whats so unique regarding pakistan
Fauzia Wahab was a good person and a good politician. Her absence would be felt very strongly by everyone including those who were her adversaries and this must bring satisfaction to those who cared about her. I pray that God may be kind to her and bless her soul and may she rest in peace.
Did any one inform Mr. Raymond Davis ?
Very brave, confident & outstanding human being! A very sad day for Pakistan & humanity.
It is sad to know there is no proper medical treatment in Pakistan. The doctors are irresponsible and diagnosis is obsolete. This is the reason why people are flocking to go to India and elsewhere to get medical treatment. Ms Wahab went for minor gall bladder surgery. OMI and all concerned doctors should be held responsible. Govt should immediately take strict action in regards to medical treatment (diagnosis, treatment, surgery and post surgery issues). Affected patients and their families should come forward and start suing doctors and hospitals. Once these doctors and hospitals start getting punished, perhaps they would be careful in the future. Our doctors and hospitals are butchers, they mint money yet they are unethical towards their profession. Take the example from India, their doctors and hospitals are so committed, they charge 1/4th the amount compared to Pakistan, yet their hospitals and doctors are flourishing. Shame on our doctors.
Its surprising that a politician from Pakistan is being praised after their death.
May God bless her soul. She indeed stood for the marginalized but in this case it was the cornerd President that she forcefully defended.
One of very few leader from the province of Sindh and representative of our country who was so clear on each and every position she took while in or off the office. One of the best lady with a smile even if she was angry during any interview of talk show. My heart goes for such a brave and intelligent politician who left us when the country needed her most. Fauzia Bibi, may your soul rest in peace, Amen.
RIP Ms. Wahab. All values you stood for are every bit worth carrying forward.
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Central leader of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and MNA, Madam Fauzia Wahab was a great leader of Pakistan and the loss of Fauzia Wahab is a great tragedy not only for her family but for Pakistan.
May Almighty ALLAH gives enough strength to her family to come over this difficult situation. Ameen.
May Almighty ALLAH rest her soul in Jannat-ul-Firdos. Ameen.
Khan
United Kingdom.
khankmk@yahoo.com