No justice: Friends, activists remember Perween on third death anniversary

Say slain social worker paid the price for bringing hope to people


Our Correspondent March 13, 2016
PHOTO: ONLINE

KARACHI: On the third death anniversary of Orangi Pilot Project (OPP) director Perween Rehman, civil society held a meeting at Pakistan Medical Association House, demanding justice for the slain activist.

Executive director of the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER), Karamat Ali, said, "She took a number of initiatives to uplift society". According to Ali, her murder was a message by the land and builder mafia, who are still threatening all those pursuing the case in the higher judiciary.

Ali said Perween used to smile and ask why anyone would be interested in killing her. What have I done to anyone, she would ask, recalled Ali.

He also demanded that we should raise our voices for justice for Sabeen Mahmud and Rashid Rehman, he said, saying their killers need to be brought to book.

According to IA Rehman, secretary general of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), the case is a high profile scandal for the judiciary, state and bureaucracy. He added that Perween always remained concerned about rights of common people and said she paid the price for bringing hope and life to people around her.

Faisal Siddiqui, who is pursuing the case, said the Sindh government's subverting of the case is nothing short of criminal negligence. "Her story is not pessimistic rather it's a story of resistance," he said. Siddiqui lauded the launching of a justice campaign by civil society and said, "People working for OPP and those involved in the legal battle against the culprits have been issued death threats".

One of Perween's students from the University of Karachi, Mir Raza Ali, said, "We should show commitment in whatever we do and impart the principles she followed in the people around us". HRCP chairperson Zohra Yusuf said Perween's sister, Aquila Ismail, has shown real courage in pursuing the case of her deceased sister with dedication and commitment.

Perween was killed on March 13, 2013 near her office in Orangi Town while returning home.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 14th, 2016.

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