| RIP Asad Rehman: ‘Chakar Khan’ buried in Lahore, remembered in Balochistan |
Noble people like Asad will never die but live in people's hearts and minds forever.
Our Salute to Asad -- Dr. Wahid Baloch
October 31, 2012
LAHORE: Human rights activist Asad Rehman was buried in his family graveyard at Guru Mangat Road on Tuesday evening.
His nephew Taimur Rehman said Asad Rehman had been hospitalised after a heart attack 12-13 days ago. He said his lungs got infected when
some fluid built up and his kidney was unable to recover after an operation. He passed away on Monday night.
Rehman, the youngest of a group of Marxists, joined the Baloch guerilla struggle in the 1970s. He was given the name ‘Chakkar Khan,’ a legendary
15th century Baloch statesman, during his stay in Balochistan.
“Chakar Khan was a name which fit his character,” Mir Muhammed Ali Talpur said. Talpur, a columnist and activist, worked as a paramedic during
Rehman’s stay in Balochistan. “People today are grateful to Asad Rehman… if you visit Facebook today you will see how well he is remembered,”
he said.
Rehman was part of a generation that had been affected by the break-up of East Pakistan. The silence over the injustices in Bengal and
Balochistan had shaken Rehman and he defied his class upbringing to show solidarity with the Baloch during the 1970s insurgency.
“The injustices happening in Balochistan today were happening in the 1970s too. Myself, Asad [Rehman], Rashid [Rehman] and Ahmed Rashid had
gone to raise a voice for the Baloch people,” Talpur said
Rehman was born in Murree on August 11, 1950. He was the son of late Supreme Court Justice SA Rahman, a member of the Boundary
Commission who had worked closely with Pakistan’s founding father MA Jinnah and Lord Radcliffe. In 1969, Rehmad left to study architecture in
London. Here he became part of the London Group, a study circle formed by young Pakistani Marxists studying in universities in England.
The London Group began publishing a monthly magazine titled Pakistani Nationalist, which provided an alternative perspective to the war in East
Pakistan. Later, five members of the London Group quit their studies in England to return to Pakistan and join the Baloch nationalists. The group
included Asad Rehman, his brother Rashid Rehman, Ahmed Rashid, Dalip Dass and Najam Sethi. Asad Rehman, Ahmed Rashid and Dalip Dass
would go in the mountains to learn the language and culture of the Baloch people and join their struggle. Dass was later killed by the Pakistani
security forces while the rest were granted general amnesty under Zia.
His brother Rashid Rehman, editor of Daily Times, said, “Earlier in life, in another avatar, he had been a resistance fighter and guerilla commander
in Balochistan who was popularly known as Chakar. When he returned he immersed himself in human rights activism.”
“He had been a consistent advocate of Baloch rights. I have been inundated with calls from Baloch friends mourning him as one of their own,”
Rashid Rehman said.
After returning in 1978, Rehman became a human rights activist associated with Aurat Foundation, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and
more recently as an executive director of Sungi.
IA Rehman, a human rights activist and a journalist, said Asad Rehman had worked courageously to defend human rights and never let his support
for the Baloch people wither.
“His work will always be remembered. He was part of a group young people who showed solidarity with the Baloch people. Till the very end his
friendship with the Baloch people remained,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 31st, 2012.
SOURCE: http://tribune.com.pk/story/458650/rip-asad-rehman-chakar-khan-buried-in-lahore-remembered-in-balochistan/
Related Links:
Our Salute to Asad -- Dr. Wahid Baloch
October 31, 2012
LAHORE: Human rights activist Asad Rehman was buried in his family graveyard at Guru Mangat Road on Tuesday evening.
His nephew Taimur Rehman said Asad Rehman had been hospitalised after a heart attack 12-13 days ago. He said his lungs got infected when
some fluid built up and his kidney was unable to recover after an operation. He passed away on Monday night.
Rehman, the youngest of a group of Marxists, joined the Baloch guerilla struggle in the 1970s. He was given the name ‘Chakkar Khan,’ a legendary
15th century Baloch statesman, during his stay in Balochistan.
“Chakar Khan was a name which fit his character,” Mir Muhammed Ali Talpur said. Talpur, a columnist and activist, worked as a paramedic during
Rehman’s stay in Balochistan. “People today are grateful to Asad Rehman… if you visit Facebook today you will see how well he is remembered,”
he said.
Rehman was part of a generation that had been affected by the break-up of East Pakistan. The silence over the injustices in Bengal and
Balochistan had shaken Rehman and he defied his class upbringing to show solidarity with the Baloch during the 1970s insurgency.
“The injustices happening in Balochistan today were happening in the 1970s too. Myself, Asad [Rehman], Rashid [Rehman] and Ahmed Rashid had
gone to raise a voice for the Baloch people,” Talpur said
Rehman was born in Murree on August 11, 1950. He was the son of late Supreme Court Justice SA Rahman, a member of the Boundary
Commission who had worked closely with Pakistan’s founding father MA Jinnah and Lord Radcliffe. In 1969, Rehmad left to study architecture in
London. Here he became part of the London Group, a study circle formed by young Pakistani Marxists studying in universities in England.
The London Group began publishing a monthly magazine titled Pakistani Nationalist, which provided an alternative perspective to the war in East
Pakistan. Later, five members of the London Group quit their studies in England to return to Pakistan and join the Baloch nationalists. The group
included Asad Rehman, his brother Rashid Rehman, Ahmed Rashid, Dalip Dass and Najam Sethi. Asad Rehman, Ahmed Rashid and Dalip Dass
would go in the mountains to learn the language and culture of the Baloch people and join their struggle. Dass was later killed by the Pakistani
security forces while the rest were granted general amnesty under Zia.
His brother Rashid Rehman, editor of Daily Times, said, “Earlier in life, in another avatar, he had been a resistance fighter and guerilla commander
in Balochistan who was popularly known as Chakar. When he returned he immersed himself in human rights activism.”
“He had been a consistent advocate of Baloch rights. I have been inundated with calls from Baloch friends mourning him as one of their own,”
Rashid Rehman said.
After returning in 1978, Rehman became a human rights activist associated with Aurat Foundation, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and
more recently as an executive director of Sungi.
IA Rehman, a human rights activist and a journalist, said Asad Rehman had worked courageously to defend human rights and never let his support
for the Baloch people wither.
“His work will always be remembered. He was part of a group young people who showed solidarity with the Baloch people. Till the very end his
friendship with the Baloch people remained,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 31st, 2012.
SOURCE: http://tribune.com.pk/story/458650/rip-asad-rehman-chakar-khan-buried-in-lahore-remembered-in-balochistan/
Related Links:
| Asad Rahman, aka Chakar Khan, 62, Passes Away. By Sher Khan |
Dr. Wahid Baloch wrote;
We here at BSO-NA are deeply shocked and saddened by the news of Asad Rehman’s untimely demise. This is a great loss for all those who stands for truth and justice. He was a
great supporter and advocate of Baloch rights. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. May God almighty keep his soul in his eternal mercy in the Paradise and give
his family and friends the courage and patience to bear this great loss.
in grief,
Dr. Wahid Baloch
Baloch Society of North America (BSO-NA)
Suit 300
Washington D.C.,
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zahid Khan wrote;
The son of a former Chief Justice and a foreign educated person also stood for the rights of Baloch. It only proves the truthfulness of the Baloch nationalist movement. If there had
been more people like him in Pakistan then we would not be having crisis in Balochistan. He will live in the hearts and minds of people forever. Participation of a person like Asad
Rehman is also a big slap on the face of all ignorants who continuously lie that Baloch movement is not indigenous but foreign aided and not a common man’s issue.
RIP – May Allah shows mercy on his soul.
We here at BSO-NA are deeply shocked and saddened by the news of Asad Rehman’s untimely demise. This is a great loss for all those who stands for truth and justice. He was a
great supporter and advocate of Baloch rights. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. May God almighty keep his soul in his eternal mercy in the Paradise and give
his family and friends the courage and patience to bear this great loss.
in grief,
Dr. Wahid Baloch
Baloch Society of North America (BSO-NA)
Suit 300
Washington D.C.,
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zahid Khan wrote;
The son of a former Chief Justice and a foreign educated person also stood for the rights of Baloch. It only proves the truthfulness of the Baloch nationalist movement. If there had
been more people like him in Pakistan then we would not be having crisis in Balochistan. He will live in the hearts and minds of people forever. Participation of a person like Asad
Rehman is also a big slap on the face of all ignorants who continuously lie that Baloch movement is not indigenous but foreign aided and not a common man’s issue.
RIP – May Allah shows mercy on his soul.