Lahore (PNI) Former chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, professor, leftist, journalist and well respected intellectual, Dr Mehdi Hasan passed away on Wednesday in Lahore after a prolonged illness. He was 84.
Dr Hasan was a beloved teacher, having taught in various institutes across Punjab, most recently at Beaconhouse University where he was the dean of the communications school. He was considered an authority on the country’s media history and his book The Political History of Pakistan was widely accepted as an important text on the subject as well.
He was a graduate of Punjab University in media studies and received his PhD from the US as a Fulbright Scholar.
He was a journalist with Pakistan Press International between 1961 and 1967, a member of PFUJ and a regular columnist for various papers in English and Urdu.
He was a fierce advocate for press freedoms and spoke for the need of an independent press. He also called for the need for a code of ethics for the electronic media.
In his role at HRCP, Dr Hasan advocated for a pluralistic society and called for the protection of minorities and women at every forum.
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