Muhammad Idrees Kamal, a well-known peace activist and convener of the Amn Tehrik of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the tribal areas, died from brain haemorrhage on Monday in Quetta. Kamal had gone to attend the oath-taking ceremony of the newly-elected chief minister of Balochistan.
Zar Ali Musazai, a delegation member who was with Idrees in Quetta, told The Express Tribune Kamal had been complaining of pain in his chest earlier in the morning, and was shifted to the hospital after his condition worsened. Kamal breathed his last at approximately 3pm.
Kamal, 45, was a resident of Tarkha, Nowshera and worked in the private industrial sector for many years.
He is survived by a wife, two sons and two daughters.
Professional life
Kamal was also the executive director of Citizen Rights and Sustainable Development (CRSD) and was the chief of Amn Tehrik which works towards conflict resolution in K-P and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).
CRSD has been working with various communities for almost 30 years to help with poverty alleviation, labour education and rights, health, education, gender development, and pollution.
Under Kamal, the organisation also assisted the victims of the floods in Peshawar.
Kamal was a very active participant in various committees and forums which were involved in causes similar to the ones he pursued.
Tributes
“We have lost a key member,” grieved Blue Veins Programme Coordinator Qamar Naseem, “Idrees was a man who was working for peace in the country.” According to Naseem, Idrees Kamal would work without remuneration. “He was a great social worker, and peace activist,” said Naseem, who would help the impoverished at any cost.
Member of the Amn Tehrik,Waqas Ahmad, saluted the social worker for his struggle for peace, education, justice, awareness and development. “It was his struggle which we will continue; his motive, slogan and mision. “
Reaction on Kamal’s death on social media
finding it hard to accept #IdreesKamal is no more - a soft-spoken activist with a firm commitment to secular #Pashtun lands. #RIP malgaria
— Mohammad Taqi (@mazdaki) June 10, 2013
Deeply saddened to hear that #IdreesKamal is no more with us. A brave person indeed- we needed him for decades more. #RIP
— Nazrana Yousufzai (@Nazranausufzai) June 10, 2013
@BushraGohar @mazdaki Its great loss and indeed a very sad news for peace loving people of KP and Pak #RIP #IdreesKamal
— Adil Shahzeb (@adilshahzeb) June 10, 2013
https://twitter.com/Chiltan/status/344077161189228544
Another great progressive activist Idrees Kamal has just passed away in Quetta. This has come as quite a shock to... http://t.co/jshzkLqcfb
— Dr. Taimur Rahman (@Taimur_Laal) June 10, 2013
Published in The Express Tribune, June 11th, 2013.
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