For all those who had seen the aura of life and energy about Iqbal Haider, the news of his death is no less than a tragedy. He was suffering from a disease of the respirator system, that coupled with a heart ailment abruptly took his life at the relatively young age of 67. After completing his LLB from the Punjab University, he went to the UK where he studied at Lincoln’s Inn which was Quaid-i-Azam’s alma mater. His career in law was fast eclipsed by his political activism and ideals, given his opposition to General Zia’s regime. Essentially a humanist, that is what he remained all his life. In a way this became the cause of parting ways with the PPP as well for under no circumstances was he willing to do anything that was against what he was preaching. A straightforward and upright individual, he worked on several crucial government positions but hard as one may try, there is hardly any blot of irregularity or misdemeanour that could be spotted. When he assumed the helm of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, he stood up against tyranny, violence against women and particularly for the rights of the fishermen on high seas punished for inadvertently violating maritime rules.
He will be remembered as a sane voice within the PPP for staunchly supporting restoration of deposed judges. In Karachi, he bravely spoke against violence without fearing backlash from any quarter. His untimely loss has left many irrevocably saddened. May he rest in peace.