Deteriorating health: Social activist ends hunger strike

“The strike ended a day earlier than it was supposed to, as he started feeling weak,” said Akhtar’s son

ISLAMABAD: Veteran political and social activist Raja Jahangir Akhtar ended his hunger strike on Monday on doctor’s advice amid deteriorating health. “The strike ended a day earlier than it was supposed to, as he started feeling weak and went to the hospital,” said Akhtar’s son Raja Jawad Jahangir. Akhtar had gone on a strike on Saturday which was supposed to end on Tuesday, the Global Day of Action against Military Spending. The hunger strike aimed to raise a voice against expected increase in military spending. Akhtar has been struggling for reduction in military budget since 1999. He has condemned the impact that disproportionate military spending has on Pakistan, calling it the root cause of economic disparity. Military spending is expected to go up by 10% in the upcoming budget.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 17^th, 2012.